Tips for nappies in your landfill bin

Nappies go into your kerbside landfill bin, which is collected every fortnight.

Some people are concerned fortnightly collection will mean smellier bins, but evidence from our service in Anglesea and from other council areas where this system is in place shows that the landfill bins are not smellier at the end of two weeks, especially if you follow our tips to help manage nappy smell in your kerbside landfill bin.

To help manage nappy smell in your kerbside landfill bin:

  • Dispose of any solid waste collected in the nappy into the toilet before placing the nappy into your bin where possible.
  • Wrap dirty nappies tightly in a nappy sack, bag or newspaper. You might choose to double wrap them to reduce the amount of air circulating around the dirty nappies and reduce the smell.
  • Store your kerbside landfill bin in the shade and out of direct sunlight.
  • Make sure your landfill bin lid closes properly and there are no cracks in the bin sides. Damaged bins can be reported on the website or app.
  • If it is still an issue, you can sprinkle vinegar, bi-carb soda, charcoal or eucalyptus oil into your bin to absorb and dissipate odours.
  • Consider cloth nappies - there are lots of online resources that can help you decide if this is a good option for your family.

If you still find you don’t have enough space you might consider paying to get a larger or second bin for the time you have children in nappies.