Wollongong Childcare & Early Learning Centre Waste Bins

Childcare centres generate a unique waste mix: nappies (the dominant stream by volume), food preparation waste, craft materials, outdoor play area waste, and sanitisation products. For a centre with 50-80 children, this adds up quickly.

Proper waste management in childcare is not just about keeping bins empty — it is about hygiene, odour control, and maintaining a safe environment for children and staff.

Childcare waste breakdown

For a typical 60-place long day care centre:

• Nappies — the single largest waste stream. A centre changing 5-8 nappies per child per day generates 300-480 nappies daily (roughly 60-100kg).
• Food waste — morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea prep waste plus plate waste from children
• Paper and cardboard — art supplies packaging, food deliveries, admin paper
• General waste — wipes, gloves, cleaning cloths, broken toys, craft offcuts
• Garden waste — from outdoor play areas and gardens

Bin recommendations

Pricing

• 240L collected 2x weekly — approximately $78/week exc GST
• 660L collected 2x weekly — approximately $106/week exc GST
• 1100L collected 2x weekly — approximately $118/week exc GST
• Recycling — $22.09/lift exc GST (any size)

Nappy waste management

Nappies are the main driver of bin volume and odour in childcare settings. Best practices:

1. Double-bag nappies — seal in nappy sacks before placing in bins to contain odour
2. Lidded nappy bins in each room — empty to external bin at least twice daily
3. Minimum 2x weekly collection — nappies in summer heat become a serious odour and pest issue within 3-4 days
4. Bin positioning — external bins away from play areas and parent pickup/dropoff zones
5. Bin lid always closed — prevents flies and contains odour

Hygiene and compliance

NSW childcare regulations (under the National Quality Framework) require centres to maintain hygienic waste disposal. Key requirements:

• Waste bins must be inaccessible to children
• External bins must have secure lids
• Waste area must be separate from food preparation and play areas
• Regular cleaning and sanitisation of bin storage area
• Staff must follow hand hygiene procedures when handling waste

Centres we service across the Illawarra

• Wollongong CBD — Crown Street, Keira Street early learning centres
• Fairy Meadows — multiple centres along Princes Highway
• Figtree — family-oriented suburb with several childcare centres
• Corrimal — Railway Street and surrounding residential area centres
• Shellharbour — growing childcare demand with new developments
• Dapto — Princes Highway centres and home-based services
• Thirroul / Bulli — northern suburbs centres

Reducing childcare waste costs

1. Separate cardboard from general waste — delivery packaging for food, supplies, and equipment fills up quickly. A dedicated cardboard bin at $22.09/lift saves money.
2. Right-size your bin — if your bin is consistently only half full on collection day, you may be able to reduce frequency.
3. Composting food waste — centres with gardens can compost fruit/vegetable scraps from food prep, reducing general waste volume.

Getting started

Call 1300 191 626 with your centre's licensed capacity (number of places) and we will recommend the right bin setup. First bins delivered within a week of confirmation.