St Kilda residents disturbed by early morning garbage truck noise

Residents in St Kilda, Melbourne, are expressing frustration over the early morning noise caused by glass bottle and can collections from a nearby recycling-for-cash container. The collections, which occur as early as 6:30 am, have disrupted the sleep of those living in an apartment complex on Barkly St. Many residents have resorted to sleeping in spare rooms to escape the 'deafening' sounds of bottles clinking and shattering as they are emptied into garbage trucks. The state government introduced the recycling initiative in 2023, but the 20-minute collection process several times a week has led to growing discontent among locals. Melissa Munday, a 55-year-old resident, highlighted the unreasonable expectation for residents to endure such noise during early hours, affecting their daily routines. In response to the complaints, Port Phillip Council Mayor Heather Cunsolo acknowledged the residents' concerns but indicated that any decision regarding the relocation of the vending machines lies with Return-It and Recycling Victoria. The machines are situated on private land, and the council's regulations permit their operation. Return-It has stated they are aware of the noise issues and have instructed their workers to begin collections after 7 am on weekdays and Saturdays, and after 9 am on Sundays and public holidays. They are actively engaging with the City of Port Phillip to find solutions that balance community needs with the accessibility of recycling points.