Recycling bin

Our recycling is collected fortnightly. If you have a big family and need a second bin, you can arrange this by contacting us. See our fees and charges page for more information.

When we move or buy new furniture we can end up with lots of extra cardboard and cardboard boxes.

• Remember to flatten cardboard boxes before you put them in your recycling bin to save space.
• You might also need to cut up large boxes so they fit, and don't get stuck in the bin when it's being emptied.

You can also drop off bulk cardboard at our Community Recycling Centre.

The triangle symbol with numbers 1 to 7 (Plastic Identification Codes) are used to represent the type of plastic the item is made of.

• This does not mean the item is recyclable, or accepted in the yellow lid recycling bin
• Not all plastics are accepted in the yellow lid recycling bin due to the type of plastic and also its format (what it has been made into)
• The only plastics that can be placed in the yellow lid bin are bottles and containers from your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry that have the plastic identification code on them.

Plastic identification code

Following are some common items that are accepted in the yellow lidded bin and their plastic identification code:

• 1 PET -water, soft drink and sport drink bottles and peanut butter jars
• 2 HDPE – milk and juice bottles, detergent, shampoo and conditioner bottles
• 3 PVC – clear cordial and juice bottles
• 5 PP – ice cream containers and lids, yoghurt, margarine and butter containers, juice bottles and take away containers

Please remember to keep your recycling loose

Recycling placed inside plastic bags or boxes cannot be separated and ends up in landfill. Don't waste your effort!

Also follow the Australasian Recycling Label on the product. It tells you how to dispose of all parts of the packaging.

Not all glass is the same

Green, brown and clear glass bottles and jars are accepted in the yellow lid recycling bin. Remove lids, caps and give them a quick rinse before popping them in your yellow lid bin.

Window, windscreen, drinking glasses, mirrors, glass containers (eg pyrex) and light globes are not suitable for recycling. This wide range of items is made from a different grade of glass that melts at a higher temperature, so when it gets mixed with the glass jars and bottles can cause defects in new glass bottles and jars when made from recycled material.

It is important to also not include china, ceramics or stones with glass bottles and jars.

Please place your bottles and jars in whole (don’t smash them)

While some will break in transit the pieces are generally larger, which helps with the recycling process. When smashed too small the items do not always make it through the sorting process.

• Keep it clean -rinse containers and remove all food and liquids. Containers with food or liquid in them are considered contaminated and cannot be recycled.
• Keep it loose - drop your recyclables in your recycling bin loose. Please don't bag or box your recyclables first, as this prevents items from being separated and recycled.
• Look for the recycling label - the Australasian Recycling Label is a proven system developed by Planet Ark that tells you which bin each piece of packaging goes in.
• If in doubt - if you have items you are not sure about, please leave them out of the yellow lid bin. Putting items in your recycling bin because you hope they can be recycled will only ruin your good recycling efforts.

The Australasian Recycling Label is found on many products you buy in the supermarket. This label tells you how to dispose of all parts of the packaging.

Once your recyclables are collected from the kerbside the items are taken to the Material Recovery Facility in Spring Farm where they are sorted and baled into different material types (paper, cardboard, steel, aluminium, glass and plastics).

Veolia, the waste company that owns the Spring Farm facility, then on-sells these items to buyers around Australia and overseas for reprocessing into new products.

When there is too much contamination the items are harder to sell (no one wants to buy dirty product), and are landfilled instead. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that only the right things go into your yellow lid recycling bin – check what is accepted and follow the Australasian Recycling Label when placing your items in the yellow lid bin.