Council clean-up rules last checked: June 2026.

Inner West Council runs booked bulky-waste clean-ups for properties that pay the council's domestic waste management charge. You book online with no set collection dates, capped at 2 cubic metres per booking across four categories: bulky household items and furniture, branches, metal and white goods, and mattresses. Bulky items and furniture go straight to landfill, and anything the council won't take is left on the street. If you can't wait for a booking, have more than 2 cubic metres, or have items the council won't collect, Paul's Rubbish clears it same-day across the Inner West and recycles what we can.

The clean-up is included for properties that pay the council's domestic waste management charge, and is booked online with no scheduled collection dates. An extra collection of up to 2 cubic metres costs $170.60 (bulky household items and furniture only). A collection that goes over the 2-cubic-metre limit is not picked up, it has to be re-booked and paid for ($150).

Residents book a kerbside collection online, then place the items in front of the property the evening before. The council crew won't enter your property boundary, so everything has to be at the kerb. Bookings can be changed or cancelled up to 48 hours before the collection date.

Each booking is capped at 2 cubic metres, with no single item longer than 2 metres. The four categories the council accepts are below, pick the right one when you book, or the items get left on the street.

You can also haul waste to a recycling centre yourself, but that means loading it, transporting it, and paying the tip fee on your own time.

Items accepted by the Inner West Council

The Inner West Council accepts four categories for a bulky clean-up. Your items have to fall under one of them:

• Bulky household items and furniture, dining tables, chairs, lounges, drawers, bookshelves (no longer than 2 metres). This category goes straight to landfill.
• Branches, bundled and tied, up to 1 metre long and no more than 10 centimetres thick.
• Metal and white goods, fridges and freezers, washing machines and dryers, stoves, microwaves, hot water systems (remove doors and locks from fridges and freezers).
• Mattresses, ensemble bases and futons. Sofa beds, metal and timber bed frames, pillows and air mattresses are not collected.

Items not accepted by the Inner West Council

• Building materials e.g. concrete, sand, brick, plasterboard
• Car parts e.g. tyres, motor oil, engine
• Hazardous waste e.g. paint, household chemical, toxic waste, gas bottles, untreated timber
• General household waste e.g. food scrap, rubbish that belongs in your wheelie bins
• Garden waste e.g. tree stumps, logs, leaves, rocks
• Beds e.g. sofa beds, metal or timber bed frames, pillows, air mattresses

Items not accepted are left on the street. For hazardous waste, the council runs drop-off events for safe disposal.

How to prepare for Inner West Council rubbish collection

1. Book online before placing any items out
2. Place items in front of the property the evening before your confirmed collection date
3. Keep the total pile under 2 cubic metres, with no single item longer than 2 metres
4. Remove doors and locks from fridges and freezers before placing them out
5. Ensure items are accessible at the kerbside, the council crew will not enter your property boundary
6. Change or cancel your booking at least 48 hours before your collection date

Which suburbs does the Inner West Council cover?

The Inner West Council covers the following Inner West suburbs:

• Annandale (shared with the City of Sydney)
• Ashfield
• Ashbury (shared with Canterbury-Bankstown Council)
• Balmain
• Balmain East
• Birchgrove
• Camperdown (shared with the City of Sydney)
• Croydon (shared with Municipality of Burwood)
• Croydon Park (shared with Canterbury-Bankstown Council and Municipality of Burwood)
• Dulwich Hill
• Dobroyd Point
• Enmore
• Haberfield
• Hurlstone Park (shared with Canterbury-Bankstown Council)
• Leichhardt
• Lewisham
• Lilyfield
• Marrickville
• Mascot (minor part) (shared with Bayside Council)
• Newtown (shared with the City of Sydney)
• Petersham
• Rozelle
• St Peters (shared with the City of Sydney)
• Stanmore
• Summer Hill
• Sydenham
• Tempe

The alternative solution

Items left on the kerb are unsightly, attract pests, and in the Inner West's narrow streets there's often nowhere to put them. The council crew only takes what's already at the kerb, they won't step inside your property boundary. Paul's Rubbish does the opposite: we come into the garage, basement or backyard and carry it out by hand, take the items the council won't, handle loads over 2 cubic metres, and do it same-day instead of waiting for a booking date. Request a free quote on 0407 125 125.

Inner West Council vs Paul's Rubbish

How the Inner West Council clean-up compares with Paul's Rubbish:

• Cost: the Council includes it for domestic-waste-charge properties, with $170.60 per extra collection and a $150 re-book if you go over 2m³; Paul's is paid, with a free volume-based quote.
• Booking: the Council is online with no set dates and limited spots; Paul's is same-day.
• Volume: the Council caps 2 cubic metres per booking; Paul's has no practical limit.
• Access: the Council is kerbside only and the crew won't enter your property; Paul's carries it out from inside.
• Items they won't take: left on the street by the Council; Paul's takes what the council won't.
• Where it ends up: bulky items and furniture go to landfill with the Council; Paul's recycles and diverts where possible.

Why Inner West residents call Paul's

Over 15 years clearing Sydney homes, public liability insured, a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and over 400 Google reviews. Same-day service, upfront free quotes, no job too big or small. Call 0407 125 125.