What goes in each bin
When you put the right thing in the right bin, it’s a small act, with a big impact.
Sorting your rubbish correctly helps:
- make sure your effort isn’t wasted
- reduce waste sent to landfill
- improve recycling, meaning new products are made from old ones
- reduce contamination
- protect the environment
- lower waste costs.
You can use the guide below to help you get your recycling and rubbish right.
For anything not listed here, you can use our A to Z guide to waste and recycling to find the right place for your items that can’t be repaired or reused.
Rubbish bin (red lid)
Your rubbish bin is for items that can’t be recycled, repurposed, repaired or reused.
Rubbish put in this bin goes to landfill.
Acceptable items
You can put the following in your rubbish bin:
- cardboard that's waxed or food-soiled, such as pizza boxes
- cigarette butts
- coffee pods
- compostable food packaging
- disposable items (including takeaway coffee cups, masks, gloves, plates, cups, straws and cutlery)
- glass that cannot be recycled (including glassware ceramic cookware, including crockery, drinking glasses, Pyrex glass, ovenware and light bulbs)
- hygiene products (including nappies, wipes, sanitary and incontinence items)
- lids and caps (bottle caps, pumps, sprays and droppers)
- medicines
- milk and juice cartons
- paper products that cannot be recycled (including tissues, shredded paper, tissue paper, serviettes, receipts and paper towels)
- plant pots
- plastic toys
- polystyrene (including food and drink containers, trays and packaging)
- soft plastics (cling wrap, food wrappers, plastic bags and bubble wrap)
- tea bags
- vapes with batteries removed
- window glass and mirrors (wrapped).
Unacceptable items
Never put the following hazardous items in your glass recycling bin:
- batteries (all types, including those from household items, power tools, cars and vapes)
Batteries cause fires in collection trucks, which puts the staff and the community in danger, as well as cause expensive damage.
You can safely drop-off batteries at one of our recycling stations locally to be recycled safely.
- e-waste (any appliance with a cord, plug or battery)
E-waste is banned from being sent to landfill. This ban protects our environment from hazardous materials and makes it possible to recover more precious resources, reducing waste.
You can safely recycle your e-waste for free at Heidelberg Materials (Wollert landfill), or at one of our recycling stations for small eligible items.
- fluorescent light globes
Fluorescent light globes contain mercury, which is harmful to people and the environment.
You can safely recycle fluorescent light globes at our free local recycling stations.
- gas bottles and canisters (including helium bottles)
Gas bottles and canisters are not accepted in landfill and can cause fires in collection trucks and processing facilities.
Learn about refill and disposal options in our A to Z guide to waste and recycling.
- household chemicals (including oil, paint, cleaning products, fertilisers, and car care products)
Household chemicals can spill or let off toxic fumes which creates danger for people in the community and processing the waste. These chemicals can damage trucks and processing facilities.
You can drop off chemicals for free at a Detox Your Home event.
- syringes
Needles, syringes and sharps are medical waste and must be processed differently to general rubbish to keep everyone safe.
You can Use our free sharps container service.
You also cannot put these items in your rubbish bin:
- bricks
- building and renovation material
- hot ash
- rocks
- soil.
Find out how to dispose of your item
Recycling bin (yellow lid)
Your recycling bin is for clean and loose items that can be recycled into new products and materials.
By using your recycling bin correctly, you’re helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. This lowers costs and protects the environment.
Acceptable items
You can put these items in your recycling bin:
- cans and tins
- cardboard egg cartons
- foil (scrunched into a ball)
- paper and folded cardboard (no paper hand towels, shopping receipts, tissues, or serviettes)
- plastic bottles (without bottle lids)
- plastic containers labelled with codes 1, 2 and 5 - learn more.
All food and liquid must be removed so your item can be recycled.
Unacceptable items
Never put the following hazardous items in your glass recycling bin:
- batteries (all types, including those from household items, power tools, cars and vapes)
Batteries cause fires in collection trucks, which puts the staff and the community in danger, as well as cause expensive damage.
You can safely drop-off batteries at one of our recycling stations locally to be recycled safely.
- e-waste (any appliance with a cord, plug or battery)
E-waste is banned from being sent to landfill. This ban protects our environment from hazardous materials and makes it possible to recover more precious resources, reducing waste.
You can safely recycle your e-waste for free at Heidelberg Materials (Wollert landfill), or at one of our recycling stations for small eligible items.
- fluorescent light globes
Fluorescent light globes contain mercury, which is harmful to people and the environment.
You can safely recycle fluorescent light globes at our free local recycling stations.
- gas bottles and canisters (including helium bottles)
Gas bottles and canisters are not accepted in landfill and can cause fires in collection trucks and processing facilities.
Learn about refill and disposal options in our A to Z guide to waste and recycling.
- household chemicals (including oil, paint, cleaning products, fertilisers, and car care products)
Household chemicals can spill or let off toxic fumes which creates danger for people in the community and processing the waste. These chemicals can damage trucks and processing facilities.
You can drop off chemicals for free at a Detox Your Home event.
- syringes
Needles, syringes and sharps are medical waste and must be processed differently to general rubbish to keep everyone safe.
You can Use our free sharps container service.
You also cannot put these items in your recycling bin:
- bagged recyclables (these go to landfill)
- bagged rubbish
- baking paper
- bottle lids
- disposable items (including masks, gloves, plates, cups and cutlery)
- food waste
- food-soiled cardboard or paper
- furniture
- garden waste
- glassware and ceramics (including crockery, drinking glasses, Pyrex, ovenware, window glass, mirrors, and light bulbs)
- lids, bottle caps, pump sprays and droppers
- milk and juice cartons
- nappies and sanitary and incontinence products
- paper towel, tissue paper, shredded paper, tissues, serviettes and shopping receipts.
- polystyrene (including food and drink containers, trays and packaging)
- scrap metal and car parts
- soft plastics (including cling wrap, plastic bags and bubble wrap)
- takeaway coffee cups and lids
- waxed cardboard
- x--rays.
Find out how to dispose of your item
Glass recycling bin (purple lid)
Your glass recycling bin is for used bottles and jars that are recycled into new ones, again and again.
Even if you have a small amount of glass to put out for collection, it makes a big impact.
Recycling glass in this bin helps reduce contamination of other items, like cardboard, plastic and paper. This helps reduce waste and keep costs low for everyone.
Acceptable items
You can out these items in your glass recycling bin:
Empty and clean glass bottles and jars that contained:
- beer, wine or spirits
- medicine, vitamins or supplements
- oil, sauce or condiments
- soft drink, juice, water or milk
- toiletry and cosmetic items.
Unacceptable items
Never put the following hazardous items in your glass recycling bin:
- batteries (all types, including those from household items, power tools, cars and vapes)
Batteries cause fires in collection trucks, which puts the staff and the community in danger, as well as cause expensive damage.
You can safely drop-off batteries at one of our recycling stations locally to be recycled safely.
- e-waste (any appliance with a cord, plug or battery)
E-waste is banned from being sent to landfill. This ban protects our environment from hazardous materials and makes it possible to recover more precious resources, reducing waste.
You can safely recycle your e-waste for free at Heidelberg Materials (Wollert landfill), or at one of our recycling stations for small eligible items.
- fluorescent light globes
Fluorescent light globes contain mercury, which is harmful to people and the environment.
You can safely recycle fluorescent light globes at our free local recycling stations.
- gas bottles and canisters (including helium bottles)
Gas bottles and canisters are not accepted in landfill and can cause fires in collection trucks and processing facilities.
Learn about refill and disposal options in our A to Z guide to waste and recycling.
- household chemicals (including oil, paint, cleaning products, fertilisers, and car care products)
Household chemicals can spill or let off toxic fumes which creates danger for people in the community and processing the waste. These chemicals can damage trucks and processing facilities.
You can drop off chemicals for free at a Detox Your Home event.
- syringes
Needles, syringes and sharps are medical waste and must be processed differently to general rubbish to keep everyone safe.
You can Use our free sharps container service.
You can't put these items in your glass recycling bin:
- bagged glass bottles and jars (these go to landfill)
- bottles and jars containing cigarette butts, food or liquids
- cardboard and paper
- corks, pumps, sprays and droppers
- glass cookware
- glass drinking glasses
- glass household items (such as vases, mirrors, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes)
- lids and caps
- plastic bags and packaging
- rubbish.
Find out how to dispose of your item
Food and garden waste bin (green lid)
Your food and garden waste bin helps produce rich compost and reduces waste sent to landfill.
The compost is used locally at farms, gardens and kindergartens.
You can line your kitchen caddy with newspaper or paper towel. We also accept 100% compostable Australian certified caddy liners, which are lime green. Look for AS 4736 on the packaging.
Acceptable items
You can put the following in your food and garden waste bin:
- bread
- caddy liners (only compostable AS 4736 are accepted)
- cakes
- coffee grounds
- common garden weeds
- dairy products
- eggshells
- expired food
- flowers
- food scarps from meals
- fruit and vegetables
- grass clippings
- leaves
- loose tea leaves
- meat and seafood (raw and cooked, including bones)
- pastries
- pruning's
- small branches
- tissues, serviettes, paper towels and shredded paper.
Unacceptable items
Never put the following hazardous items in your food and garden waste bin:
- batteries (all types, including those from household items, power tools, cars and vapes)
Batteries cause fires in collection trucks, which puts the staff and the community in danger, as well as cause expensive damage.
You can safely drop-off batteries at one of our recycling stations locally to be recycled safely.
- e-waste(any appliance with a cord, plug or battery)
E-waste is banned from being sent to landfill. This ban protects our environment from hazardous materials and makes it possible to recover more precious resources, reducing waste.
You can safely recycle your e-waste for free at Heidelberg Materials (Wollert landfill), or at one of our recycling stations for small eligible items.
- fluorescent light globes
Fluorescent light globes contain mercury, which is harmful to people and the environment.
You can safely recycle fluorescent light globes at our free local recycling stations.
- gas bottles and canisters (including helium bottles)
Gas bottles and canisters are not accepted in landfill and can cause fires in collection trucks and processing facilities.
Learn about refill and disposal options in our A to Z guide to waste and recycling.
- household chemicals (including oil, paint, cleaning products, fertilisers, and car care products)
Household chemicals can spill or let off toxic fumes which creates danger for people in the community and processing the waste. These chemicals can damage trucks and processing facilities.
You can drop off chemicals for free at a Detox Your Home event.
- syringes
Needles, syringes and sharps are medical waste and must be processed differently to general rubbish to keep everyone safe.
You can Use our free sharps container service.
You also can't put the following in your food and garden waste bin:
- ash
- bricks
- building material
- carboards boxes, including pizza boxes
- cat litter
- cigarette butts
- coffee pods or takeaway coffee cups (including compostable)
- concrete
- glass
- hair (including pet hair)
- medicines
- nappies and wipes (including compostable or biodegradable)
- paper plates
- pet droppings
- plant pots
- plastic bags
- plastic packaging (including packets, cling wrap and ties)
- rocks
- scrap metal
- sharps
- soil
- tea bags
- toys
- tree stumps
- uncertified caddy liners
- vacuum dust
- wooden icy pole sticks
Find out how to dispose of your item
What to do with items that can't go in a bin
To find out how to dispose of items that can't go into your bins:
Your environmental duties
We all have a general environmental duty to:
- reduce waste
- take care when recycling or disposing of waste
- keep chemicals like paint and solvents away from waterways
- take care when engaging with private waste or skip bin companies.
More information about bins
Find answers to FAQs on our bin collections page.