Waste & Environmental Services

    Sustainable communities:
    Waste and environmental initiatives

    East Arnhem Regional Council provides Waste and Environmental Services to the six communities, aiming to build healthier, cleaner communities and minimise environmental impacts on the land.

    Waste data and facts in our communities

    Did you know?

    • Recycling Initiative by the Council

    Council initiated Recycling in 2015. Council divert approximately 40 tonnes of waste materials each year from its landfills, transporting them back to Darwin by barge to be recycled. These waste materials include; drinking containers, tyres, waste oil, lead acid batteries, scrap metal and electronic waste.


    • Strengthening partnerships

    Where possible, Council partners with National Product Stewardship Schemes to ensure the items being sent back to Darwin are appropriately recycled and/or reused. These partnerships include; Tyrecycle (Tyre Stewardship Australia); MobileMuster (Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association); Close the Loop (Cartridges 4 Planet ark); Envirobank (Container Deposit Scheme); TechCollect (National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme); and Ecocycle (B-Cycle Battery Recycling). 


    The East Arnhem region is particularly remote, with small community populations, and five of the nine communities located on islands. This finite space for many of our communities means that the region needs to be innovative and collaborative in its approach to waste management. The region requires the support and involvement of all stakeholders, from residents to businesses to Government agencies to support waste avoidance and recycling programs. This will help in minimising landfill expansion and negative environmental impacts to our communities, making them more sustainable into the future.


    • Minimising Landfill Expansion

    The combined area of all landfills in East Arnhem communities is 215,641 m2. We can minimise this area growth by reducing the waste we produce, recycling as much as we can and always following the signs at the landfills (depositing waste in the right areas).


    • Wheelie Bin Collection

    Council serves over 2,300 wheelie bins twice per week. Please put your bins out only on rubbish days and keep them in good condition.

    More information

    Get Involved!

    Should you wish to participate, volunteer or suggest any initiatives that can improve the waste services provided by East Arnhem Regional Council to its communities please contact us at:
    wasteservices@eastarnhem.nt.gov.au

    Report a problem

    Council waste facilities

    As part of our commitment to responsible waste management, we operate several Landfill and Resource Recovery Facilities (LRRF) in communities where viable alternatives are unavailable. These facilities play a crucial role in waste disposal and resource recovery.


    List of Currently Operated LRRFs:


    LRRF - Galiwinku

    LRRF - Milingimbi

    LRRF - Ramingining

    LRRF - Gapuwiyak

    • Reporting Commercial Waste Loads

      For transparency and compliance, all commercial waste loads taken to the listed LRRFs must be reported. For additional information, please contact us at: wasteservices@eastarnhem.nt.gov.au.

    • Resource Recovery and Best Practices

      We prioritise resource recovery whenever it is economically viable and aligns with best practices at all our LRRF sites. It helps us minimise waste and make the most of available resources.

    • Commercial Landfill Facilities in Certain Communities:

      In communities where a commercial Landfill Facility is accessible and viable for both Council and the community, we utilise these facilities while adhering to their terms and conditions of use. Presently, these communities include Yirrkala and Gunyangara.

    • Scavenging at Landfill Sites

      To ensure safety and maintain site integrity, scavenging is strictly prohibited at all Council's landfill facilities. This applies to everyone, including Council staff, contractors, and the general public, unless explicitly authorised to do so. Scavenging includes salvaging, receiving, or removing any item or material already accepted at the landfill site for disposal or recovery.

    Waste collection and disposal

    • Regular Collection Days and Times

      Our service includes emptying authorised 240L wheelie bins at each eligible property. We perform collections twice a week on specific days and times, ensuring a smooth waste disposal process.

    • Number of Wheelie Bins Allowed

      For residential properties, you are allowed a maximum of 2 wheelie bins:


      If your property has 5 or fewer occupants, you can have 1 wheelie bin.

      For properties with more than 5 occupants, you can have 2 wheelie bins.

      Additional Bins for Commercial Properties:


      Commercial properties have the option to request additional bins. However, please note that there is an extra fee for each additional bin.

    • Service for Special Events

      We offer our Roadside Collection Service for 'one-off events', making it convenient to manage waste during these occasions.

    • Finding Your Collection Day

      For your convenience, you can easily find your specific bin collection day through the Wheelie Bin Collection Schedules available for EARC Communities by clicking here.

    How to dispose your waste

    Things that GO in your Purple Bin:

    General household items or general commercial waste only.

    Things that CANNOT GO in your Purple Bin:

    Download the table

    • Hard Waste Collection

      Hard Waste refers to household items that cannot be accommodated in 240L Wheelie Bins due to their size, weight, or chemical properties. Please note that Unacceptable Waste is not included in this category.

    • Roadside Collection Service for Residential Properties

      If you reside in a residential property, you are eligible for up to twelve Hard Waste Collections per year.

    • Pre-Cyclone Season Hard Waste Clean Up

      Once a year, typically in October, Council organises a Pre-Cyclone Season Hard Waste Clean Up in each community. This special event aims to ensure the removal of any Hard Waste that may pose a hazard during cyclone conditions. Council will provide at least one week's notice before the cleanup takes place.

    • Unacceptable Waste:

      Certain types of waste are not accepted by the Council for collection. To learn more about what is considered Unacceptable Waste, please follow the relevant links below:


      Unacceptable Waste for Roadside Collections

      Unacceptable Waste at Council Facilities 


    Wheelie bin and car removal application forms

    We offer convenient forms to help you apply for various waste collection services and address specific needs. Access all our forms by clicking here.


    • New Kerbside Collection Service Application: If you need to apply for a new kerbside collection service for a property that is not currently being serviced, or if you have a new property that requires waste collection, please fill out the specific form in our forms section.

    • Wheelie Bin Replacement Application: In the unfortunate event of a lost, stolen, or damaged wheelie bin, we are here to assist you. To request a replacement, please fill out the specific form in our forms section.

    • Car Body Removal Application: If you have an old damaged vehicle on your property that needs to be removed, please complete the application form for car body removal in our forms section.


    Once you have completed the relevant form, kindly email it to us at:         wasteservices@eastarnhem.nt.gov.au.


    If you require any additional information or have any questions, feel free to contact us at:
    (08) 8986 8986.

    Waste management facility induction

    Important: Site Induction for Waste Management Facilities

    All staff visiting the waste management facilities must complete a site induction.


    Please follow these steps to register your attendance:

    • Complete the registration form to confirm your visit.
    • Once your form is submitted, you will receive links to the online induction modules.
    • Select the module corresponding to the community you will be visiting.

    Register for training

    As a condition of entry, all vehicles entering this site must be registered in accordance with the Traffic Act.


    All users of this site must be aware that, where a vehicle is unregistered and the owner cannot be located, the vehicle registration details will be recorded and reported to the Police as an unregistered vehicle.

    Waste fees and charges

    Council recovers the cost of providing waste management services by charging:

    • Annual Refuse Rates to each property
    • A price per bin per collection to commercial properties with additional bins
    • Commercial landfill access fees (not applicable to households/ residents)


    Click here to access current Commercial Landfill Dumping Fees applicable to all landfill sites operated by EARC (Galiwinku, Milingimbi, Ramingining and Gapuwiyak).


    Reminder: All commercial users of Councils waste facilities must complete an online induction prior to entering the site.

    A beach with white sand and mangroves in the distance

    Let’s Keep Milingimbi Safe

    November 27, 2025
    Let’s Keep Milingimbi Safe - No Fires at the Landfill

    Healthy Homes Community Clean Up Week

    September 1, 2025
    East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) is proud to participate in the ‘Healthy Homes Community Clean Up Week’ alongside many other organisations committed to improving the health and housing outcomes of residents living in Yirrkala.

    Community Clean Up Month

    April 2, 2025
    East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) held multiple Clean Up Days in February.

    Territory Tidy Town Awards

    December 3, 2024
    East Arnhem Regional Council (EARC) is proud to have received 13 Awards at the Territory Sustainable Community Tidy Towns Awards 2024.

    Scrap Metal Recovery Project

    November 5, 2024
    3,176.64 tonnes of scrap metal have been recycled as part of our ongoing Scrap Metal Recovery Project.