Terms of service

SECTION 1 - ACCESS AND ACCOUNT

By agreeing to these Terms of Service, you represent that you are at least the age of majority in your state or province of residence. To use the Services, including purchasing any of the collection plans we offer, you may be asked to provide information such as your email address, billing information, and service address. You represent and warrant that all information provided is correct and current. You are solely responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials.

SECTION 2 - OUR SERVICES

We have made every effort to provide an accurate representation of our bin sizes and service plans. We do not warrant that the quality of any services purchased will meet your expectations or be exactly as depicted in our online store. All descriptions of services (including collection frequencies and waste types) are subject to change at any time without notice. We reserve the right to limit the provision of Services to any person, geographic region, or jurisdiction.

SECTION 3 - SERVICE ORDERS

When you place an order for a service plan, you are making an offer to purchase. The Garbage Company reserves the right to accept or decline your order for any reason (for example, if your address is outside our service area). Your order is not accepted until we confirm acceptance. Please review your service address carefully before submitting. Cancellations, modifications and any refunds are governed by these Terms of Service, including Section 4A (Subscriptions, Cancellations and Refunds).

SECTION 4 - PRICES AND BILLING

Prices for collection plans are subject to change without notice. The price charged will be the price in effect at the time the order is placed. You represent and warrant that you are authorised to use the payment method provided and that you will pay all charges incurred, including any applicable taxes or environmental levies.

SECTION 4A – SUBSCRIPTIONS, CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

Certain services are provided on a recurring subscription basis. By purchasing a subscription, you authorise The Garbage Company to charge your nominated payment method on a recurring basis in accordance with your selected plan.

Customers are responsible for ensuring that their payment method remains valid and has sufficient funds available to process subscription payments.

If a payment fails, The Garbage Company may make additional attempts to process the payment. If payment remains unsuccessful after our retry attempts, the scheduled collection for that period may be skipped. We will continue attempting to process future scheduled payments in accordance with the subscription plan unless the subscription is cancelled in accordance with our Cancellation Policy.

Subscription charges will continue in accordance with the selected plan until cancelled.

Where a minimum service commitment applies, customers may not cancel their subscription until the minimum number of successful collections has been completed. For subscriptions subject to a minimum commitment of four (4) successful collections, cancellation requests submitted before the completion of four successful collections will not take effect until the minimum commitment has been satisfied.

The Garbage Company reserves the right to modify collection schedules, pricing, service areas, or subscription plans from time to time. Any changes will be communicated in accordance with applicable laws.

The Garbage Company reserves the right to cancel or terminate any subscription where these Terms are breached or where continued service is not reasonably practicable. 

Refunds
Refunds are not automatic and will only be provided where The Garbage Company determines that a refund is appropriate. Any decision to issue a refund, including whether a refund is granted and the amount of any refund (whether full or partial), will be made at The Garbage Company's sole discretion, subject to any rights you may have under the Australian Consumer Law. Refunds, where approved, will be processed using the original payment method unless otherwise agreed.

SECTION 5 - COLLECTION AND PERFORMANCE

We are not liable for delays in bin collections or missed collections due to events outside our control (e.g., extreme weather, road closures, or vehicle breakdown). All collection schedules provided are estimates only. It is your responsibility to ensure bins are accessible and that we are able to safely enter the property and reach the bin location as outlined in Section 22. 

SECTION 5A – WASTE COLLECTION CONDITIONS

Bin Size and Service Selection

Customers are responsible for selecting the correct bin size and waste type when booking a service. If the actual bin size exceeds the booked bin size, or the waste type differs from the booked service, The Garbage Company may refuse collection, adjust the booking, charge the difference in price, or, where appropriate, issue a full or partial refund in accordance with Section 4A of these Terms of Service.

The Garbage Company only services wheelie bins up to and including 240 litres. We reserve the right to refuse collection of any bin exceeding 240 litres or any waste container that is not a standard residential wheelie bin.

Permitted Waste

Our services are intended only for general waste and recycling waste as specified in the selected service. Customers must ensure that waste placed in bins complies with all applicable laws and waste disposal requirements. Unless expressly stated otherwise, our services do not include green waste, garden waste, food organics, or other specialised waste streams.

Prohibited Waste

The following items must not be placed in bins presented for collection:

  • Asbestos or asbestos-containing materials
  • Chemicals, solvents, paints, oils, fuels, or hazardous substances
  • Batteries, gas cylinders, or explosive materials
  • Medical, biological, or infectious waste
  • Liquid waste
  • Hot ashes, burning materials, or flammable substances
  • Soil, bricks, concrete, rocks, or other construction materials
  • Any material that cannot be legally disposed of through standard waste disposal facilities

We reserve the right to refuse collection where prohibited materials are identified.

Contaminated or Incorrect Waste

If a bin contains waste that does not match the booked service type, contains prohibited materials, or is otherwise contaminated, we may refuse collection, partially collect the waste, charge additional fees, or recover any additional disposal, transport, cleaning, or handling costs incurred as a result.

Overloaded and Excessively Heavy Bins

Bins must not be overloaded or exceed safe lifting limits. Bin lids should be able to close completely and waste must not be compacted in a manner that prevents safe emptying.

Where a bin is considered unsafe to lift, excessively heavy, or likely to cause damage to collection equipment, we may refuse collection, partially empty the bin, or charge additional fees.

Additional Waste Outside the Bin

Unless expressly agreed in writing, collection services apply only to the booked bin. Waste, rubbish bags, boxes, or other materials placed outside the bin are not included in the service and may incur additional charges.

Photographic Evidence

The Garbage Company may take photographs before, during, or after collection for operational purposes, quality assurance, training, safety compliance, dispute resolution, service verification, and chargeback disputes. Such photographs may include bins, waste contents, access conditions, and collection outcomes.

SECTION 6 - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Our Services, including logos, text, and images, are property of The Garbage Company. Unauthorised use of these marks, or any content found on this site, is strictly prohibited. These Terms permit you to use the Services only.

SECTION 7 - OPTIONAL TOOLS

We may provide access to third-party tools (such as scheduling or mapping tools). We provide these “as is” and shall have no liability arising from your use of these optional third-party tools.

SECTION 8 - THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Our site may contain links to third-party websites (such as local council waste guidelines). we are not responsible for the content or accuracy of these external sites.

SECTION 9 - RELATIONSHIP WITH SHOPIFY

The Garbage Company is powered by Shopify. However, any service agreements are made directly between you and The Garbage Company. Shopify is not responsible for the performance of the bin collection services or any loss resulting from them.

SECTION 10 - PRIVACY POLICY

All personal information, including service addresses, is handled according to our Privacy Policy. By using the Services, you acknowledge you have read our policy.

SECTION 11 - FEEDBACK

If you provide reviews or feedback, you grant us a license to use that content for any purpose, including marketing our services. We reserve the right to remove feedback we deem offensive or unlawful.

SECTION 12 - ERRORS AND OMISSIONS

Occasionally, information on our site may contain errors regarding collection dates, bin sizes, or pricing. We reserve the right to correct these errors and cancel orders if the information was inaccurate.

SECTION 13 - PROHIBITED USES

You may not use our services for unlawful purposes, to violate local waste regulations, to harass our staff, or to upload malicious code to our website. Violation of these terms will result in immediate termination of your service.

SECTION 14 - TERMINATION

We may terminate your service plan at any time if you breach these Terms. You remain liable for all amounts due up to the date of termination.

SECTION 15 - DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

Our services are provided "as is" and "as available." While we strive for excellence, we do not guarantee that the service will be uninterrupted or error-free.

SECTION 16 - LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Garbage Company shall not be liable for any injury, loss, damage, expense, delay, or claim arising from or relating to the use of our services, including but not limited to any damage caused by bins, collection vehicles, access to the property, missed or delayed collections, or the refusal of a collection where required for safety or operational reasons, except to the extent caused by our negligence or where liability cannot be excluded by law.

We are not liable for any loss, additional disposal costs, fines, penalties, delays, or other expenses arising from incorrect information provided by the customer, including but not limited to incorrect bin size, waste type, bin location, access instructions, or the presence of prohibited, contaminated, overloaded, or unsafe waste.

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any rights or remedies that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or any other applicable law.

SECTION 17 - INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify and hold The Garbage Company and Shopify harmless from any claims arising out of your breach of these Terms or your violation of any law.

SECTION 18 - SEVERABILITY

If any part of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the rest of the Terms remain in effect.

SECTION 19 - ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms and our Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and The Garbage Company regarding your use of our Services.

SECTION 20 - GOVERNING LAW

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which The Garbage Company is headquartered (Australia).

SECTION 21 - CHANGES TO TERMS

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Your continued use of the service following updates constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

SECTION 22 – PROPERTY ACCESS AND COLLECTION AUTHORITY

By booking, confirming, or receiving a bin collection service, you expressly authorise The Garbage Company and its employees to enter your property for the purpose of locating, accessing, moving, and emptying your nominated wheelie bin(s) or waste items.

You acknowledge and agree that:

  1. Right of Access
    You grant us permission to enter the areas of your property reasonably required to perform the service, including driveways, carports, side paths, front yards, and bin storage areas, even if you are not present at the time of collection.

  2. Safe and Clear Access
    You are responsible for ensuring safe, unobstructed access to the bin(s), including:

    • Unlocked gates and accessible entry points

    • No aggressive, unrestrained, or uncontrolled animals on the property

    • No vehicles blocking access to the bin(s)

    • No hazards such as loose surfaces, construction materials, dangerous obstacles, or unsafe conditions

    Customers must ensure that all pets and animals are securely restrained during collection. If our staff reasonably believe that an animal or any other condition poses a safety risk, we may refuse collection without liability and the service may be treated as completed.

    If access is unsafe, restricted, or blocked, we may refuse collection without liability.

  3. Authority to Move Bins
    You authorise our team to move your bin(s) from their storage location to our collection point and return them to a reasonable position on your property after servicing.

  4. Risk and Property Conditions
    You accept that access may involve standard operational movement of bins across driveways, paths, or lawns. We are not liable for minor surface marks, wheel tracks, or ordinary wear that may occur during normal collection, except where caused by our negligence.

  5. Third-Party Property
    If bins are located on property not owned by you, you confirm you have the legal authority to grant us access to that property.

  6. Failure to Provide Access
    If we are unable to access the bin(s) due to locked gates, obstructions, safety concerns, or restricted entry, the service may be treated as completed and no refund or rescheduling will be required.

SECTION 23 - CONTACT INFORMATION

Questions about the Terms of Service should be sent to: contact@thegarbagecompany.com.au.