Residential Flat Buildings

This section applies to development applications for:

• buildings containing 3 or more dwellings, but does not include an attached dwelling or multi dwelling housing
• amendments to existing residential flat building (RFB) developments that will significantly affect waste generation and/or management.

Applicants are required to complete Stage 3 of City of Parramatta’s Waste Management Plan Template and must address all of the requirements below. 

Waste Management Plan

Applicants are required to submit waste management plans with their application which show:

• expected volumes and types of waste to be generated from use of the site. Waste generation rates of 80 Litres/unit/week for general garbage and 40 Litres/unit/week for co-mingled recycling should be applied when calculating this figure
• details of how this waste will be stored on site, including provisions for the separation of waste and recycling, and details of any garbage chutes (designed in accordance with the requirements of the Building code Australia and the Department of Environment and Climate Change Better Practice Guide for Waste Management in Multi-Unit Dwellings) or compaction equipment
• details of how ongoing management of waste will be conducted (e.g. care-taker, tenant as part of lease agreement).

Site Plans or Drawings

Applicants are required to submit plans with their application which show:

• location of an indoor waste/recycling cupboard for each dwelling
• location and design of all communal waste storage area/s, capable of accommodating all waste generated on the premises
• location of any garbage chutes, compaction equipment, bin pulls or interim storage rooms on each floor
• location of any service lifts used for waste/recycling transport
• identification of collection point, including path of travel for moving bins from storage area to collection point (if kerbside collection) or vehicular access path to storage area (if on-property collection).

Controls

Each unit must be provided with an indoor waste/recycling cupboard that is large enough to accommodate a single days waste and provides for the separation of garbage and recycling.

Communal waste storage room/s must be provided on the premises and shall be constructed to comply with all the relevant provisions of City of Parramatta including:

• the size being large enough to accommodate all waste generated on the premises, with allowances for the separation of waste types
• be located on either the ground floor or basement with a minimum 1.2m aisle space for access
• the floor being graded and drained to an approved drainage outlet connected to the sewer and having a smooth, even surface, coved at all intersections with walls
• the walls being cement rendered to a smooth, even surface and coved at all intersections;
• cold water being provided in the room with the outlet located in a position so that it cannot be damaged and a hose fitted with a nozzle being connected to the outlet
• the room shall be adequately ventilated (either natural or mechanical) in accordance with the Building Code of Australia and
• the maximum travel distance from any dwelling to the waste services room is not to exceed 75 metres.

All RFB developments are required to provide separate bins for both general and recycling waste with a minimum size of 240 Litres which are to be shared between units. The size is to be calculated on the basis of waste generation rates and proposed bin sizes. Table 2 outlines communal bin area bin and room size requirements.

The bin carting route must allow bins to be wheeled directly to the collection point over solid, flat or ramped surfaces with a maximum grade of 7% (3% for bulk garbage bins 360L or greater); not over steps, landscape edging or gutters; to be free of obstructions; and a minimum 2 metres wide (see table below).

All waste must be removed at regular intervals and not less frequently than once per week for garbage and fortnightly for recycling.

Requirements for communal bin areas

Size of storage area (m²) for all bin sizes

Design storage areas so that there is easy access for residents and caretakers including allowance for the manoeuvrability of bins including minimum aisle space of 1.2m. Area must be large enough to accommodate all waste generated. For example number of bins x size of bins + space for manoeuvrability.

Please see Appendix A of the Department of Environment and Climate Change “Best Practice Guide for Waste Management in Multi-unit Dwellings” 2008 for layouts of bin storage areas.

Kerbside waste collection is considered unsuitable in most circumstances given the high number of bins and the associated time taken to service the bins. Where this is not possible due to site-specific constraints, kerbside collection may be supported if it can be demonstrated that this arrangement will not create any adverse issues.

To avoid impact on pedestrian safety and traffic congestion during collection periods, only developments that contain up to 8 dwellings should present their bins for kerbside collection.

Developments containing more than 8 dwellings are required to have an on-property collection point. Where on-property collection is not possible or impractical, kerbside collection for more than 8 dwellings may be supported where it is demonstrated that there will be no adverse impact on safety, traffic flows and amenity.

In the case where bins are not presented kerbside, City of Parramatta shall determine the need for either on site access by collection vehicles or the requirement for bins to be wheeled to an agreed collection point for servicing. The transfer of bins to a collection point and their return can either be the responsibility of as caretaker or body corporate, or can be arranged by Council in accordance with Council adopted Fees and Charges.

City of Parramatta does not usually offer services to private roads or building basements. However, City of Parramatta may provide on-site collection and enter private property with vehicles, but this would require prior approval and the transfer of an authorised easement restricted to the common property on the strata plan (see Terms of Easement). The easement would provide indemnity against liabilities, losses, damages and other costs arising from the on-property collection service provided.

Vehicular access to bin collection areas must be considered in terms of road gradients, horizontal alignments, vertical curves, cross-falls, verges, pavement widths, turning areas, clearance heights, manoeuvring clearance and road strength (load bearing). Where on-property collection is required to service the development, adequate and safe access must be provided for City of Parramatta’s Standard Waste Collection Vehicles as follows:

• the site must be designed to allow collection vehicles to enter and exit the site in a forward direction and to adequately manoeuver once on-site
• the route of travel for the waste vehicle is to be of sufficient strength and quality to support a standard waste collection vehicle
• the minimum basement height must be 3.5m clearance for Small Rigid Vehicles (SRV) access (for up to 5 storeys residential height) and 4.5m basement height clearance for Heavy Rigid Vehicles (HRV) access into residential developments of 6 storeys or greater, as well as mixed use and commercial and industrial developments
• the grades of entry and exit ramps and manoeuvrability (including turning circles) must not exceed the capabilities of the waste collection vehicle and are to comply with AS2890.2 Parking Facilities: Off-Street Commercial Vehicle Facilities.

Further details can also be found in Appendix D of the DECC “Best Practice Guide for Waste Management in Multi-unit Dwellings” 2008 for vehicle access and turning circles. Applicants should contact City of Parramatta's Waste Services section to confirm truck sizes and advise of current servicing arrangements.

Additional dedicated areas for temporary storage of unwanted bulky items (eg. cardboard, furniture or appliances) are to be provided adjacent to waste storage rooms, and must be accessible to all residents.

All waste and recycling materials are to be wholly contained within the designated bins and secured closed with lids to prevent leaks and spills.

If using City of Parramatta’s kerbside waste service, the following restrictions apply:

• all bins must be placed out, with lids firmly closed, and presented at the kerb the evening before a collection and must be returned the next evening
• frontage must be sufficient to accommodate all bins placed on the kerb 1 metre apart
• where bins are to be placed out and collected on land subject to community title, a letter of indemnity is required to be submitted to Council as part of any development application
• where bins are to be placed out on a cul-de-sac, a turning circle of at least 25m diameter kerb to kerb (27.8m diameter wall to wall, swept circle) is required.

For developments with over 8 dwellings, the movement of waste to the communal storage room is be achieved through either:

• an interim room provided on each floor for storage of garbage and recycling material. An appointed caretaker transports material from the interim rooms to the communal storage room via a service lift or
• a chute system installed to transport garbage to the communal storage room and interim rooms on each floor for storage of recycling. An appointed caretaker transports recycling from the interim rooms to the communal storage room. Chutes are not suitable for recycling due to the risk of glass breakage or blockage of chute by bulky cardboard.

Where bins are shared between residents signage indicating the appropriate use of bins must be provided and a caretaker appointed who is responsible for managing waste including:

• moving of bins to and from the collection point
• washing of bins
• keeping the bin area clean and tidy.

Between collection periods, bins and associated waste must be stored within the designated storage room/s. For developments with less than 8 dwellings bins are to be placed out on a kerb for collection no earlier than the night before a collection, and must be returned to the storage area on the premises no later than the night after the collection.

If bins are required to be moved from the storage area to a collection point, the path provided must not contain any steps, and must comply with the specific requirements set out in the table below.

Requirements for bin movement path

Where on-site collection is not possible because of topographic or access constraints, and/or restrictive site dimensions, adequate arrangements need to be made for the convenient, safe and direct access between the waste storage room and the collection point. These arrangements need to be discussed at a pre-lodgement meeting with City of Parramatta’s Waste Services section.

For developments comprising 4 or more storeys (8 or more dwellings), the development can incorporate a waste chute system to the following specifications:

• the waste chute system will provide a chute for garbage only
• waste disposal points are to be provided on each residential level of the development in an accessible and readily identifiable location
• the chute is to be designed to minimise noise and fire risks being cylindrical in section and having a diameter of at least 500mm. The chute is to be completely enclosed in a fire-rated shaft and constructed in accordance with the Building Code of Australia
• the chute is to terminate in a garbage room and discharge directly into a receptacle/bin that prevents spillage and overflow. The waste chute service room must be located directly under where the chute terminates
• a site caretaker or manager will be required to transfer all bins from the chute service room to the agreed waste bin storage area ready for collection.