Clearing out a Canberra or Queanbeyan home before you move? Bulky waste works differently either side of the border. Here’s how each service works, where the drop-off sites are, and how to fit it around your end of lease clean.
Details checked 11 October 2026. Confirm on the official page before you book.
ACT Government: City Services (ACT NoWaste)
There are no local councils in the ACT. Household bins, bulky waste collections and the tips are run by the ACT Government’s City Services, through its waste service ACT NoWaste.
Bulky waste collection
- Who and how much: Canberra households can book one free bulky waste collection each financial year, of up to 2 cubic metres.
- Limits: no item longer than 2 metres or too heavy for two people to move safely.
- Not collected: batteries and items with built-in batteries, hazardous waste and chemicals, glass and mirrors, asbestos, gas bottles, soil, tyres, garden or food waste, building materials, liquids, recycling and general household rubbish. Full list of accepted and excluded items.
- Cost: the yearly collection is free; mattresses and bed bases cost $46.35 each (from 1 July 2026). ACT NoWaste fees.
- Booking notice: bookings close 14 days before the collection date and can be made up to 6 months ahead. Cancellations are accepted until 2 business days before collection.
- Apartments and townhouses with shared bins: ask your strata or building manager, who books bulky waste collections for residents.
- Book: online bulky waste booking or call ACT NoWaste on 02 6205 9521.
Drop-off sites
- Mitchell Resource Management Centre (tip), Flemington Road, Mitchell. Hours: 7.30 am to 5 pm, seven days; closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. Household rubbish by vehicle load (for example $17.30 for up to a sedan boot under 0.5 tonnes, from 1 July 2026), mattresses for a fee; whitegoods, TVs and computers free. Goodies Junction reuse shop on site. Centre details · Fees
- Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre (tip), Mugga Lane, Symonston. Hours: 7.30 am to 5 pm, seven days; closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. As for Mitchell, plus free green garden waste and free household recycling. Centre details · What goes where (Recyclopaedia)
- Recycling drop-off centres (recycling only, free, open 24 hours, seven days; no rubbish, polystyrene or soft plastics): Belconnen (Jolly Street), Gungahlin (3 O’Brien Place), Mitchell (22–26 Baillieu Circuit), Phillip (38 Botany Street) and Tuggeranong (Scollay Street). Drop-off locations
Moving out: Bulky waste bookings close 14 days before the collection date, so check available dates as soon as you know your moving date, and have items collected before your end of lease clean and key handover. If no collection date suits, you can take items to Mitchell or Mugga Lane yourself (fees apply), or arrange a rubbish removal service.
Sources: City Services: Bins; Bulky waste collection; Shared-bin complexes; Resource management centres; Drop-off; Fees and charges; Contact.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
Queanbeyan is in New South Wales, so bins and bulky waste are run by Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, not the ACT Government.
Kerbside Clean Up (bulky waste)
- Who: urban homes with a three-bin service (garbage, recycling and FOGO).
- How much: up to two free collections each financial year, if available, of up to 2 cubic metres each, plus one mattress or one ensemble base placed separately.
- Not collected: TVs, computers and monitors, paint, gas bottles, batteries and items with built-in batteries, construction waste, hazardous materials and garden waste. Full list.
- Notice: the council does not publish a minimum booking period; changes or cancellations must be made six days before collection. Put items out no earlier than one day before, and by 6 am on the day.
- Unit blocks with shared bins: eligible multi-unit properties get two scheduled clean-ups a year, with dates sent by mail.
- Book: in the LoopedIn Councils app, online or by calling 1300 735 025.
Drop-off sites
- Queanbeyan Waste Minimisation Centre (recycling and green waste only; no household rubbish), 5 Lorn Road, Crestwood. Hours: Monday to Friday 9.15 am to 4.15 pm; Saturday and Sunday 7.15 am to 4.15 pm. Green waste (free for residents), cardboard and paper, recycling, and household items such as batteries, oils, paint and gas bottles. It does not take general household waste, builders’ materials or e-waste. Transfer stations
- Bungendore Transfer Station (transfer station), 210 Tarago Road, Bungendore. The council’s nearest site to Queanbeyan that takes general household waste, mattresses and whitegoods (fees apply to some items). Its opening hours are changing, so check the council page before you go. Hours, items and fees
Moving out: Book your Kerbside Clean Up as early as you can and have items collected before your end of lease clean and key handover. If no collection suits your moving date, take items to the Bungendore Transfer Station (fees apply to some items) or arrange a rubbish removal service.
Sources: QPRC: Check my bin collection day; Kerbside Clean Up; Transfer stations; Collection schedules; FOGO guide (PDF); Contact.
Moving out?
Once the rubbish is gone, book your clean: see end of lease cleaning in Canberra or in Queanbeyan. For the bond side, read our moving out and rental bond guide.