After a hedge trim, the clippings pile up fast — faster than most people expect. A 10-metre lilly pilly hedge trimmed on both faces can produce an impressive volume of green waste that does not fit in a bin, does not belong in landfill, and creates a disposal decision most homeowners have not thought through. This guide covers five practical options for dealing with hedge trimmings in Melbourne, when each makes sense, and what you cannot legally do. For the removal side sorted as part of the trim itself, see our green waste removal service.
Why hedge trimmings are trickier than most garden waste
Lawn clippings are soft, fine, and decompose quickly. Hedge trimmings are often woody, dense, and break down slowly. They do not fit easily in standard green waste bins in large volumes. They cannot be burned in metropolitan Melbourne. And they take up a lot of space when piled up at the back of the garden. The good news is there are several legitimate options, and one of them will suit your situation.
Option 1: Compost them (and when it actually works)
Composting hedge trimmings works — but with conditions. Fine, soft material from species like murraya, lilly pilly, and viburnum breaks down reasonably well in an active compost system. Woody, thick material from mature hedges or species like photinia breaks down very slowly unless chipped or shredded first.
Hedge species that compost well
Soft-leafed species with small leaves and thin stems compost well: murraya, lilly pilly, viburnum, and young pittosporum growth. These can go into a standard compost bin in moderate amounts, mixed with other organic material.
What not to put in the compost bin
Woody stems over 1 cm diameter, diseased material, and invasive species like privet should not go into home compost. Diseased material can survive the cold composting process and spread the problem when you use the compost.
Hot composting vs cold composting for bulk material
A hot compost system reaches temperatures that break down tough material much faster than a standard cold bin. For bulk hedge trimmings, building a proper hot compost pile — with the right balance of carbon and nitrogen, maintained moisture, and regular turning — can break down woody material in 6 to 12 weeks rather than 12 months.
Option 2: Use as mulch in garden beds
Shredded or chipped hedge trimmings make good garden mulch. A 5 to 8 cm layer around trees and in established garden beds retains moisture, moderates soil temperature, and breaks down slowly to improve soil over time. Run the material through a chipper or hire one for the day. The resulting chips are a genuinely useful resource rather than a disposal problem.
Do not want to deal with the clippings at all?
At YardMate, all hedge clippings are loaded and removed as part of every trim. One less thing to think about.
Option 3: Council green waste bins and collections in Melbourne
What the green waste bin accepts
Most Melbourne council green waste bins accept small branches, hedge trimmings, leaves, and lawn clippings. Bin capacity is the limiting factor — after a large hedge trim, you may fill your green waste bin in a single session and still have half the material left over. Some councils allow extra bags or bins during scheduled clean-up periods.
Which Melbourne councils collect green waste
Most Melbourne metropolitan councils now include a green waste bin in the standard service. If you are generating more than your bin can handle, a professional green waste removal service is the efficient solution for the excess.
Option 4: Hire a rubbish removal service to take the lot
For large volumes — a long boundary hedge, a significant clean-up, or a property that has not been trimmed in several seasons — a professional green waste removal service is almost always the most practical and time-efficient option.
What a green waste removal job includes
The crew assesses the material, loads it into the truck, and takes it to a licensed green waste facility where it is composted or mulched commercially. Nothing goes to landfill. For properties in Frankston and surrounding areas, same-day or next-day collection is typically available.
What it typically costs in Melbourne
A single-crew load of hedge trimmings starts from around $100 to $150 for a moderate volume. Larger volumes from a full property clean-up or a significant boundary hedge trim run from $150 to $300 depending on volume. When green waste is removed as part of the hedge trimming service itself — which is how YardMate operates — there is no separate trip or separate cost.
Option 5: On-site chipping (when it is worth the effort)
Hiring a garden chipper or borrowing one for a day makes sense when you have a large volume of woody material and want to turn it into a resource rather than a disposal problem. Most domestic chipper hire runs $80 to $120 for a day. The resulting chips can be used directly as mulch or added to a compost bay. The effort is real, but so is the result.
What you cannot do with hedge trimmings in Melbourne
- Burn them — open burning is prohibited in metropolitan Melbourne
- Dump them on council land, roadsides, or nature strips
- Put large volumes in regular waste bins
For context on what the hedge trimming process involves and what is typically included as part of a professional trim, see our guide on hedge trimming costs in Melbourne.
FAQ: Getting rid of hedge trimmings
Can I burn hedge trimmings in Melbourne?
No. Open burning of garden waste is prohibited in metropolitan Melbourne under local government and state environmental regulations. On Total Fire Ban days, burning is restricted even further. Composting, mulching, council green waste bins, or a professional removal service are the legal alternatives.
Can I put hedge trimmings straight into the compost?
Soft material from species like murraya or lilly pilly, yes. Woody stems and thick branches from mature hedges will break down very slowly in a standard cold compost bin. Chipping them first makes a significant difference to how quickly they decompose.
How do I dispose of large volumes of trimmings?
A professional green waste removal service is the most practical option for large volumes. They handle the loading, transport, and licensed disposal in a single visit. Council green waste bins are useful for the regular smaller volumes generated by ongoing maintenance.
Does a hedge trimming service take the clippings?
Most professional hedge trimming services include clipping removal. At YardMate, all clippings are loaded and removed as part of every job. If you would prefer to keep them for composting or mulching, just say so when you book. Always confirm this when getting a quote as some operators charge separately for removal.
