Get Set for Christmas and New Year: tips for reducing waste
Published on 22 December 2025
The Christmas and New Year period is a busy time for households, often bringing new gifts, visitors and a bit of extra clutter. To help residents reduce waste and dispose of items responsibly, Council offers a range of free and convenient recycling and disposal options.
Here are some simple ways to manage common post-Christmas items while getting set for summer.
Unwrapping new tech? Recycle the old responsibly
If new electronics or tech were on your Christmas list, you may be wondering what to do with older devices. There’s no need to pay to get rid of unwanted electrical goods.
As a resident you can:
- Donate working electrical items to our Resale Shop, where they can be reused by others in the community, or
- Dispose of old, unwanted or broken electrical goods free of charge at the Recycling Centre.
- Add items to your hard waste collection in the New Year. Book a collection.
Getting rid of your e-waste in this way keeps the community safe and environment protected.
A greener goodbye to your Christmas tree
Once the festive season is over, natural Christmas trees can be disposed of responsibly at the Melton Recycling Facility.
And, up until 12 January 2026, green waste including real Christmas trees can be dropped off for free as part of our free green waste disposal initiative.
This service helps divert organic waste from landfill and supports sustainable waste management.
Share the joy, donate bikes and toys
If children have received new bikes or toys for Christmas, consider donating older items rather than throwing them away.
Bikes, toys and other reusable items can be donated to the Resale Shop at Melton Recycling Facility.
Donations help reduce waste and support reuse within the local community.
Declutter during the festive season
If you’re cleaning up before or after holiday visitors arrive, don’t forget to take advantage of your annual hard waste entitlements.
Each household that receives a Melton City Council kerbside bin service (including tenants and property owners) is entitled to one of the following each year:
- Two Council hard waste collections (up to 3 cubic metres each), or
- Two drop-offs at Melton Recycling Facility (up to 1 cubic metre each), or
- A combination of one of each.
Bookings are required for hard waste collections.
Wrapping up after gift giving
After presents are unwrapped, you're left with shiny new things. You're also left with a pile of wrapping paper and packaging.
Luckily, there are ways to get rid of the mess and looking after the environment:
- Wrapping paper and cardboard can go in your recycling (yellow lid) bin. Large amounts can bedropped off for free at the Melton Recycling Facility.
- Polystyrene goes in the general waste (red lid) bin. Larger amounts should be taken to Melton Recycling Facility where you can use your waste entitlements for disposal, otherwise costs apply.
For more guidance, Council’s Waste A–Z guide explains how to dispose of a wide range of items correctly.
Unwanted gifts
If you’ve received a gift you don’t need or won’t use, donating it is a great alternative to disposal.
Unwanted but usable gifts can be donated to the Resale Shop at Melton Recycling Facility.
Donations help others in the community and reduce landfill waste.
Find Out More
By making use of our services and choosing reuse where possible, residents can help keep the City of Melton clean, sustainable and ready for summer.
For full details on these services and more tips on managing waste over the warmer months, visit melton.vic.gov.au/get-set-for-summer
Get Set for Summer