What to Do With Hard Rubbish When Moving House in Melbourne

By TubHire Melbourne · Moving Tips

Moving house is the perfect time to clear out years of accumulated stuff. Old furniture, broken appliances, mattresses that have seen better days — but what do you actually do with it all in Melbourne?

Option 1: Council Hard Rubbish Collection

Most Melbourne councils offer a free hard rubbish collection once or twice a year. It’s free, but the timing is fixed — you can’t guarantee it’ll happen when you need it. Rules vary by council on what’s accepted, and you’ll need to leave items on the kerb days in advance.

Best for: Planning ahead with plenty of lead time. Not ideal for: Last-minute moves.

Option 2: Marketplace Selling

Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree can shift decent furniture quickly. List items for free, add photos, and you might earn some cash while clearing space. The downside — you need to manage enquiries, be home for pickups, and deal with no-shows.

Best for: Good-quality items with resale value. Not ideal for: Large volumes or urgency.

Option 3: Charity Donation

The Salvos, Vinnies and Lifeline all accept good-condition furniture and goods. Some offer free pickup for larger items. Great for giving stuff a second life — but they won’t take broken, damaged or heavily worn items.

Option 4: Professional Hard Rubbish Removal (Recommended)

For a stress-free clearout that works around your schedule, professional hard rubbish removal is the most reliable option. Our sister business Hard Rubbish 2 Go operates across Melbourne and removes almost anything:

• Sofas, beds, wardrobes and other furniture
• Fridges, washing machines, TVs and appliances
• Renovation waste — timber, tiles, plasterboard
• Mattresses of all sizes
• Green waste and garden rubbish
• General hard rubbish and junk

Pricing starts from $99, same-day service is available, and they’ll work around your moving schedule. Call 1300 819 081 or visit hardrubbish2go.com.au.

Bundle It With Your Tub Hire

Moving is easier when everything is sorted in one place. Book your TubHire reusable moving tubs for packing (from $79, free delivery) and let Hard Rubbish 2 Go handle the clearout. Two calls, two bookings, zero stress.

Moving House Checklist Melbourne 2026

By TubHire Melbourne · Moving Tips

Moving house is one of life’s most stressful events — but a good checklist makes all the difference. Here’s everything you need to do before, during and after your Melbourne move.

6-8 Weeks Before

• ✅ Book your removalist (good ones fill up fast in Melbourne)
• ✅ Book your TubHire moving tubs — packages from $79
• ✅ Start decluttering — sell, donate or book Hard Rubbish 2 Go for bulky items
• ✅ Notify your landlord or estate agent
• ✅ Check your lease end date and bond return process

3-4 Weeks Before

• ✅ Notify Australia Post of your new address
• ✅ Update your address with your bank, ATO, Medicare
• ✅ Transfer or disconnect utilities (electricity, gas, internet)
• ✅ Arrange pet care or child care for moving day
• ✅ Start packing non-essential rooms

Moving Week

• ✅ Confirm removalist booking and start time
• ✅ Confirm TubHire delivery window — call 0411 371 970
• ✅ Pack kitchen last (you’ll need it until the end)
• ✅ Defrost fridge/freezer 24 hours before move
• ✅ Set aside an overnight bag for your first night
• ✅ Do a final walk-through of the old property

Moving Day

• ✅ Be home for removalist arrival
• ✅ Protect floors and doorways
• ✅ Check every room, cupboard and drawer before leaving
• ✅ Take photos of the old property on the way out
• ✅ Return keys to agent or landlord

After the Move

• ✅ Book TubHire pickup from new address — call 0411 371 970
• ✅ Check your bond return status
• ✅ Update your Medicare and driver’s licence address
• ✅ Enrol kids in new local school if needed
• ✅ Introduce yourself to the neighbours

Reusable Tubs vs Cardboard Boxes — Which is Better for Moving?

By TubHire Melbourne · Moving Tips

If you’ve ever moved house, you know the cardboard box struggle. The trips to the liquor store. The tape that runs out. The boxes that collapse under weight. There’s a better way — and Melbourne movers are catching on fast.

The Case Against Cardboard

Cardboard boxes have a lot going against them:

• They collapse. Stack them too high or too heavy and they buckle. This is a real problem for books, kitchenware and anything fragile.
• They require tape. Hours of assembly before you can even start packing.
• They’re not waterproof. One rainy moving day and your books, clothes and documents are ruined.
• They end up in landfill. Most cardboard boxes are used once and binned.
• Variable sizes. Stacking mixed boxes in a truck is a game of Tetris you never win.

The Case For Reusable Plastic Tubs

TubHire’s 32L heavy-duty plastic tubs solve every problem cardboard creates:

• Won’t collapse. Stack 4 tubs fully loaded and they hold firm.
• No assembly. Arrive lidded and ready. Just pack.
• 100% waterproof. Secure-fitting lids mean rain isn’t a problem.
• Reused hundreds of times. Far better for the environment.
• Uniform 32L size. Stack perfectly in any moving truck.

Cost Comparison

People assume cardboard is cheaper. Let’s check:

Cardboard boxes for a 2-bedroom move: 40 boxes at around $3-4 each = $120-160, plus tape, markers and disposal time. And you still have to break them all down and find a way to dump them.

TubHire 2-3 bed package: $139 including 40 tubs, 5 days hire, free delivery to your door, and free pickup from your new address. No tape. No assembly. No disposal.

The Verdict

For most Melbourne moves, reusable plastic tubs win on every measure — cost, convenience, durability and environmental impact. The only reason to use cardboard is if you need to start packing before your tub delivery. For everything else, tubs are the smarter choice.

How to Pack a House in a Weekend — Melbourne Moving Guide

By TubHire Melbourne · Moving Tips

Moving house in Melbourne doesn’t have to be a weeks-long ordeal. With the right approach and the right equipment, you can pack your entire home in a single weekend. Here’s how.

Friday Night: Gather Supplies

Before the weekend begins, make sure your supplies are ready to go. The biggest time-waster on moving day is running out of boxes mid-pack. Book your TubHire reusable moving tubs a few days ahead so they’re delivered to your door before you start.

Unlike cardboard boxes, TubHire tubs arrive ready to pack — no assembly, no tape, no fuss. Each 32L tub comes with a secure lid and stacks perfectly. Call 0411 371 970 to book.

Saturday Morning: Start with Non-Essentials

Pack the things you won’t need before the move first:

• Books, artwork and decorative items
• Off-season clothes and spare linen
• Garage and shed items
• Spare bathroom products
• Anything in storage

Label each tub with a chalk marker or sticky label — room name and a rough idea of contents. TubHire tubs have a wipe-clean surface so you can relabel easily.

Saturday Afternoon: Tackle the Bedrooms

Work room by room. Pack each bedroom completely before moving to the next. Leave out only what you’ll need for Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The uniform 32L size of TubHire tubs makes stacking in the moving truck much easier than cardboard — no wobbly tower of mismatched boxes.

Sunday: Kitchen, Living Room & Last-Minute Items

The kitchen is the trickiest room — leave it for Sunday morning when you’ve used the last of the perishables. Pack plates, glasses and appliances. Keep a small overnight bag aside with essentials for your first night in the new place.

By Sunday afternoon, everything should be packed, loaded and ready. And because you used TubHire tubs, there’s nothing to break down, dump or recycle — we collect them from your new address when you’re done.

Don’t Forget the Hard Rubbish

Moving is the perfect time to clear out old furniture, appliances and junk. Our sister business Hard Rubbish 2 Go offers fast hard rubbish removal across Melbourne from $99 — same day available.