What are skip bin permits and when do you need one?

Skip Bin Permits are a mechanism whereby local government councils can manage the risk to their infrastructure and residents when third parties are placing waste containers on their property and public roads. Waste containers are often large metal containers (skips and bins) that can damage the surfaces they are placed on roads and foot paths and cause an obstruction to traffic or the visibility thereof if placed in poorly chosen locations.

Skip Bin permits originated from the idea of road opening permits that council also manage to allow builders and subcontractors to do work on council property when they need to dig up or change the road or road side environment to install utilities (like power, water and telecommunications) or install driveway cross-overs, gates etc. To apply for Skip bin permit requires that an application is submitted to gain council approval for the property of the skip bin company to be placed on their land.  These applications not only require information about where the bin is placed but also who owns the waste containers and who is going to provide the council with security that any damage is going will be repaired by the applicant or the bin company by way of having such risk insured. Usually the insurance is required for product and personal liability for up to $20 million to cover cover any risk to person as well as property.

The management and issue of skip bins is different by council. Some councils don't mind who takes out the permit while other only allow skip bin companies to organise the permits.  Many councils in Victoria only allow their skip bin permits to be taken out by the skip bin companies who own the bins as they can leverage the control of the practice to ensure a higher rate of compliance. In New South Wales many councils accept applications from householders and builders etc. Compliance in these environments are often achieved by the implementation of heavy fines form those businesses and household who fail to obtain a permit to use the council property.