To support those who may face challenges preparing their property for cyclone season, City of Darwin offered an assisted pick-up service for eligible residents who required assistance removing hazardous outdoor items from their yard or other accessible outdoor areas. Bookings for this service are now closed.

Who is eligible for the assisted pick-up service? 

To be eligible for the 2026 assisted pick-up service, residents must:

• reside within the City of Darwin municipality; and
• have limited physical or mental capacity to remove unwanted outdoor items and/or hold a current disability support pension card or a current doctor’s certificate for reasons including disability, age-related frailty, mental illness, chronic illness, injury, recovery from surgery or another medical condition;
• have no household member who is reasonably able to undertake the work safely; and/or
• have no reasonable access to informal or community support to undertake the work.

Residents who do not meet the above eligibility criteria, but face genuine barriers to removing cyclone hazards from their property and do not have reasonable support available are encouraged to contact City of Darwin to discuss their circumstances.

What do I need to know about the service? 

This assisted pick-up service is intended to help eligible residents who have concerns about genuine cyclone hazards on their property, with limited physical capacity, and do not have the means or support to safely remove them.

We encourage residents to contact City of Darwin directly to discuss their circumstances and the assistance options that may be available.

Collection crews cannot remove items from inside homes, garages, sheds or other enclosed areas. 

What do I need to do before my collection?  

• Check the eligibility criteria  
• Review the information on this page, including what will and will not be accepted  
• Complete the booking form (or call 08 8930 0300, visit us in person at the Civic Centre or one of our Libraries, or email darwin@darwin.nt.gov.au and our team can assist you).
• Wait for a City of Darwin Officer to confirm your booking details. 

Preparing for an assisted pick-up 

To help our team complete your collection safely and efficiently: 

• City of Darwin will only collect outdoor items that are stored in an accessible outdoor area, such as a driveway, carport, yard or front veranda.  
• Please carefully review the items that we can accept. We will not accept any prohibited items. (See the list below for more information). 
• The total volume of items must not exceed 2 cubic metres. 
• Individual items must be less than 2 metres in length. Longer items will not be accepted unless they are dismantled or cut down to under 2 metres. 
• Items must be able to be safely lifted by two people (generally under 50kg).
• A consent form must be signed at the time of collection to confirm what items are being collected, the presence of any animals at the property and access arrangements for the collection team.  

Items that can be collected

Items that cannot be collected (Prohibited items): 

• Asbestos   
• Broken glass  
• Cardboard (recycle in your yellow bin)  
• Commercial waste   
• Concrete   
• Food and garden waste (including fridges containing food waste)   
• Unlabelled liquids and chemicals  
• Waste exceeding 2 cubic metres   
• Large items longer than 2 metres in length such as scrap metal, trampolines, swing sets and lengths of timber 

How do I book an assisted pickup? 

Bookings for the assisted pick-up service is now closed. 

Need more information?

• Call 08 8930 0300 or email darwin@darwin.nt.gov.au. 

FAQs

Can someone apply on my behalf? 

Yes. A family member, carer, support worker or authorised representative may assist you with completing and submitting a booking form. 

What proof of eligibility do I need to provide? 

If applicable, you will need to provide either a current Disability Support Pension Card or a current doctor's certificate confirming your eligibility under the program criteria. 

Can I include green waste from my garden?

No. Green waste, soil, rocks and other garden waste cannot be collected through this service.

Can I include a fridge or freezer? 

Yes, provided all food waste has been removed before collection. 

What if I am not eligible for the assisted pick-up service? 

Residents who have concerns about genuine cyclone hazards on their property, , and do not have the means or support to safely remove them, please contact City of Darwin directly to discuss your circumstances and the assistance options that may be available.

Residents can still dispose of eligible hard waste free of charge at the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility.

What should I do if I need help completing the booking form? 

Call 08 8930 0300, visit us in person at the Civic Centre or one of our Libraries, or email darwin@darwin.nt.gov.au and our team can assist you.