Why moving house creates so much waste
When you're moving, you're not just shifting what you want to keep. You're cleaning out - the shed, the garage, the spare room, the linen cupboard, and the garden all need attention.
- Decluttering to pare down what you move - old clothes, books, toys, kitchen gadgets
- Clearing the garage and shed - tools you don't use, broken equipment, old tarps
- Tidying the garden - overgrown plants get cut back if you're selling, and the waste piles up
- Stripping old flooring - carpet, lino, underlay, and old floorboards
- Dumping broken or worn furniture - couches that don't fit the new place, old beds, broken chairs
Which bin size for your move
- 9m³ Standard ($850): apartment or unit declutter, minimal furniture, light garden tidy-up
- 12m³ Medium ($1,150): 2-bed house, moderate decluttering, small amount of garden waste
- 15m³ Large ($1,450): 3-bed house, full clear-out of garage and shed, garden waste - most popular for moving
- 20m³ XL ($1,750): large 4+ bed house, estate-level clear-out, significant garden waste or old flooring
One bin m³ ≈ one standard 6×4 trailer load. If you'd need multiple trailer trips, one bin is cheaper and easier.
Timing your bin hire around the move
Your 7-day hire window gives you a defined clear-out period. Book it to align with your moving dates.
- Book 48 hours ahead - next business day delivery is standard
- Deliver 2–3 days before move day - gives you time to fill without rushing
- Start with the shed, garage, and garden - heaviest and bulkiest waste first
- 7-day hire included - extend at $15/day if packing takes longer
- Collection after move day - sort it before you hand over keys
What can go in your moving-house bin
Hooklift bins accept most household and garden waste - everything that typically gets cleared when moving.
- Accepted: old furniture, carpet, lino, timber, broken appliances, garden waste, soil, general rubbish
- Prohibited: asbestos, hazardous chemicals, liquid waste, tyres, gas bottles, batteries, e-waste (TVs, computers, monitors), medical waste
Tips for an efficient move clean-out
- Start 2 weeks early - don't wait until move week to sort the shed
- Shed and garage first - these hold the heaviest and bulkiest waste
- Sort into piles: keep, donate, sell, rubbish
- Garden tidy-up next - cut back, pile branches, bag leaves
- Inside last - furniture and household items are lighter and pack easier
- Load heavy items low, light items on top