Pricing and Costs of Waste Removal in Melbourne
Melbourne Rubbish Disposal: What Does It Cost?
Moving house is stressful enough without having to deal with all the junk left behind by the previous owners.
As you survey the piles of rubbish strewn across the floors, the mounds of unused furniture in each room, and the overflowing bins, you let out an exasperated sigh.
How much is it going to cost to haul all this away?
In this article, rubbish removal experts will go through the cost of Rubbish Removal and the factors that affect its cost.
We will also share some of the tips from our friendly team.
Excess Rubbish After Moving
When moving into a new home and building in Melbourne, you’re often faced with the daunting task of clearing out the previous owner’s unwanted items and rubbish. It’s not uncommon to find garages and sheds filled to the brim with junk, yards strewn with broken furniture and appliances, and even entire rooms that have been used for storage.
This is a major headache, especially if you want to move your own belongings in quickly and don’t have time for multiple trailer trips to the tip. Paying for a professional rubbish removal service and skip bin hire seems inevitable. But with prices ranging wildly across different companies, how do you know you’re getting a fair deal?
Financial Stress
Disposing of the extra rubbish adds another unexpected cost on top of all your other moving expenses. Whether you just need a few trailer loads removed or a full house cleanout, it can easily run into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This is money you could have used for furniture, renovations, or settling into your new community.
Time and Effort
Tackling the clearance yourself means taking multiple trips to the dump, borrowing or renting a trailer, and manual labour loading, unloading, and hauling the junk. Even if you have family or friends to help, it still takes up whole weekends that could have been used for unpacking and getting organised.
Environmental Impact
Improperly disposing of the junk can lead to illegal dumping, which harms the environment. Certain items like appliances and electronics, paint, gas bottles, chemicals, and other hazardous waste, household waste, and green waste need to be disposed of responsibly to avoid contaminating landfills and waterways around Melbourne. Doing it yourself increases the risk of not following proper waste disposal procedures.
Hire an Affordable Rubbish Removal Service
Hiring professional rubbish removers takes the stress out of junk clearance and council approval. Experienced companies have the tools, trucks, and workforce to efficiently clear even the biggest loads of junk and waste. They responsibly recycle or dispose of everything, so you avoid fines for illegal dumping. Best of all, they can usually clear an entire property in one trip.
Save Time and Effort
Reputable rubbish removalists will handle all the hard work for you. With access to large trucks and teams of uniformed staff, they can load and clear junk efficiently. All you need to do is point out the items you want removed. There’s no need to borrow trailers or utility vehicles. You also save hours of manual exertion lugging rubbish to the kerb or loading trucks.
Affordable and Transparent Pricing
The best rubbish removers will provide upfront quotes based on the amount of junk you have, with fixed fees for full truckloads. This allows you to budget the average cost rather than getting unwanted surprises. They’ll often beat the price of doing multiple self-haul trips to the tip. For very large clearouts, some even offer hourly rates with minimum fees.
Proper Waste Disposal
Professional services ensure your junk ends up in the right disposal facilities. Many are committed to maximising recycling and minimising waste sent to landfills. Hazardous waste is treated and disposed of safely. Using a reputable company means you avoid legal issues around illegal dumping on public or private land.
Factors that Affect All Types of Rubbish Removal Cost in Melbourne
1. Truck Size
- Small 2-tonne trucks hold 6-8 cubic metres, ideal for 3-4 rooms of junk.
- Medium 5-tonne trucks hold 14-16 cubic metres, suitable for 6-8 rooms.
- Large 10+ tonne trucks hold 20+ cubic metres for whole house/office clearouts.
2. Load Type
General household junk costs less than construction waste and other types of waste like bricks and soil which require extra dump fees. Hazardous waste also incurs additional handling costs.
3. Accessibility
Carrying junk up flights of stairs or through narrow access points increases labour time and difficulty.
4. Location
Distance to the waste transfer station/landfill from the pickup location affects transport costs. Prices are usually lower in metropolitan Melbourne.
5. Minimum Fees
Many companies charge minimum 2-hour fees or 2-tonne truck fees. The fixed costs mean smaller jobs may seem proportionally more expensive.
6. Time and Staffing
Weekend, evening, public holiday and emergency calls outs usually cost extra due to overtime rates for staff.
Average Rubbish Removal Rates in Melbourne
Here are typical price ranges for common trash removal needs in Melbourne:
- 2-tonne truck (6-8 cubic metres): $200 – $350
- 5-tonne truck (14-16 cubic metres): $350 – $550
- 10-15 tonne truck: $550 – $950
- Furniture items – Sofa $50-100, Dining table $50-150, Mattress $30-60, Fridge $50-100
- Whitegoods/electronics – Washing machine $40-100, Oven $40-100, TV $30-80
- Construction waste – Soil per tonne $80-150, Concrete per tonne $150-300, Bricks per tonne $150-300
Expect to pay more for faster service, After hours and weekend rates, Minimum call out fees of $100-$250 apply for smaller loads.
Prices are higher for difficult access locations e.g. Above ground level.
Questions to Ask Rubbish Removal Companies
Get clear written quotes from several rubbish removal services before choosing one. Here are key questions to ask:
- Do they cover your suburb and are they licensed to transport waste?
- What truck sizes do they offer? Will one truck fit all your junk?
- Do they charge by volume (cubic metres) or weight?
- Do they quote fixed prices or hourly rates?
- Are there minimum fees or call out charges?
- What days/times are they available for pickup?
- Can they dispose of hazardous waste like chemicals, asbestos and electronics?
- Will they separate and recycle usable materials e.g. metals?
- Do they have public liability insurance and workers compensation?
- Can they provide references from previous satisfied customers?
Top Tips for Affordable Rubbish Removal
Follow these tips to get your junk removed affordably and efficiently:
1. Compare Quotes
Get at least 3 different quotes to compare rates. But also consider professionalism, reputation and service quality.
2. Pick Package Deals
Choose an inclusive truck load rate where possible, rather than hourly fees which are hard to estimate.
3. Avoid Peak Times
Bookings during weekdays or non-peak seasons often have lower rates.
4. Get Help Prepping
The more you can consolidate junk into a few areas beforehand, the faster a team can load it.
5. Offer to Load Small Items
For a lower service fee, offer to load up smaller loose items that don’t require machinery.
6. Book In Advance
Give 2-7 days notice to ensure truck availability and avoid “emergency fees”.
7. Ask About Recycling
Companies who recycle usable items may offer you a discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What items can rubbish removers take?
Almost any legal residential waste – furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, boxes, garden waste etc. Many also take construction debris like bricks and concrete. Hazardous chemicals may incur surcharges.
Will they take trash to the tip for me?
Yes, reputable companies hold waste transport licenses to carry rubbish and recycling to appropriate waste management and recycling facilities.
Do I need to be home for the rubbish pickup?
No, you can leave the junk outside on the curb for the team to load up. Or you can be home to guide them. Ensure heavy items are accessible.
Can I get a rubbish removal quote over the phone?
Companies can give a phone estimate to start with, but will need to see the junk in person to provide an accurate fixed quote with no surprise fees.
What payment methods do they accept?
Most accept all payment types – cash, credit card, bank transfer etc. They may ask for prepayment or deposit for very large jobs. Make sure to get an invoice.
Conclusion
Clearing out leftover junk and rubbish is one of the biggest headaches when moving into a new home.
But with Melbourne’s many affordable and professional rubbish removal services, you can have all that unwanted junk gone in one truckload.
Next time you’re facing a house full of someone else’s trash, let the experts handle it – your back and wallet will thank you.
Hire an experienced local team you can trust to dispose of the waste properly and get you settled into your new home fast.
