A-Z: What goes where?

There are many options to dispose of unwanted items; it often doesn't have to go in to your garbage or recycling bin. Use this A-Z overview to find your item and the different possibilities to discard it.

Legend

Red bin – Garbage
Yellow bin – Recycling (note: if your household has a blue bin, the yellow bin is for containers such as cans, plastic and glass)
Blue bin – Paper and cardboard (certain suburbs only)
Green bin – Green waste and garden organics

A

Item Preferred Alternative
Aerosol cans (empty) but NOT gas cylinders or cans that hold compressed gas Yellow bin
Aerosol cans with remnant chemical content Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Air conditioner, portable Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods
Aluminium cans Yellow bin

Did you know...? Aluminium is 100% recyclable. Recycling involves melting the scrap, a process that requires only 5% of the energy used to produce aluminium from ore.
Aluminium foil (clean, scrunched to tennis ball size) Yellow bin

Did you know...? Aluminium is non-magnetic.
Aluminium foil (dirty) Red bin
Aluminium tray Yellow bin

Did you know...? Almost all metallic aluminium is produced from the ore bauxite.
Asbestos Visit the Recycling Near You website to find a disposal service. EPA website: Facilities that accept household asbestos

B

Item Preferred Alternative
Barbecues Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods.
Batteries (single use and rechargeable) Drop them off at Council's Petersham Customer Service Centre, our household drop-off events, IKEA, Aldi stores or visit the Recycling Near You website for more options.
Batteries (car) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Batteries (mobile phone) Visit the Mobile Muster website, drop them off at Council's Customer Service Centre at 2–14 Fisher Street, Petersham or at the next Household chemical and e-waste drop-off. Visit the Recycling Near You website for more options.
Beverage cups  Red bin

Did you know...? Paper coffee cups are lined up with petroleum-based plastic materials and contaminate the paper recycling stream. Try using a reusable coffee cup instead!
Beverage cup lids  Red bin Stack up to 20 lids together and put in the yellow bin.
Beauty products  - unopened The Beauty Bank - social enterprise
Bicycles The Bower or Cycle Re-cycle Council clean up service
Biodegradable plastic Red bin

Did you know...? Biodegradable plastics require specific conditions to biodegrade properly, and if not managed properly they may be worse for the environment than conventional plastics.
Biscuit trays (moulded plastic) Yellow bin
Books (paper cover) Donate to charity, Freecycle, The Bower Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Books (plastic cover) Donate to charity, Freecycle, The Bower. If not suitable for donation, pull the cover off and recycle pages. Red bin
Bottles (glass or plastic) Yellow bin

Recycling tip: Keep lids on bottles wherever possible.
Bottle caps (plastic or metal) See bottles
Branches and prunnings Green bin
Council clean up service
Bricks Contact The Bower, Reverse Garbage (concrete-free bricks only) or contact a commercial waste facility. Alternatively, post on Buildbits, Freecycle or Gumtree. Visit the Business Recycling website
Bric-a-brac Donate to charity, Freecycle or The Bower. Council clean up service
Brooms Upcycling Red bin
Bubble wrap Soft plastics drop-off (Red Group/Coles) or refer to the Recycling Near You website.
Building materials Refer to each specific item: bricks, tiles, doors, door handles, windows, fencing, metal frames, carpet and underlay, concrete, insulation, fireplace, plasterboard, sand.

C

Item Preferred Alternative
Candle (paraffin wax or soy/bee wax) Recycle at home (visit this page to find out how) Red bin
Cameras Donate to charity, Freecycle Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Cardboard Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
For excess cardboard drop off at VISY, 6-19 Burrows Road, St Peters. Phone 02 9316 4343.
Cardboard (waxed) Council clean up service
Car parts Refer to the Recycling Near You website.
Carpet and underlay Contact The Bower, Reverse Garbage or a commercial waste facility for disposal. Visit the Business Recycling website for more ideas. Council clean up service
Cartridges (printer) Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi stores, Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, The Good Guys, Office National and Office Products Depot outlets.

Inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and toner bottles from most brands are accepted. This includes cartridges used in printers, photocopiers and fax machines. 		Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Cassette tapes Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Refer to the Recycling Near You website
CDs & DVDs Refer to the Recycling Near You website or drop off at our Household chemical and e-waste drop-off. For commercial quantities, donate to a charity shop. Red bin
CD cases  Red bin
Cellophane Red bin
Chemicals (household, garden and pool) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Christmas tree (real) Council clean up service
Cigarette butts Red bin
Cleaning products Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Clothing and textiles, reusable Donate to charity, Freecycle or this garment collection initiative Red bin
Clothing and textiles, beyond reuse Tear up for cleaning cloths or cushion stuffing or donate to this garment collection initiative Red bin
Coat hangers (plastic) Give away online (if in good condition) Red bin
Coat hangers (metal) Offer to give them to your local laundry or dry cleaner
Coffee cups (paper) Red bin

Did you know...? Paper coffee cups are lined up with petroleum-based plastic materials and contaminate the paper recycling stream. Try using a reusable coffee cup instead!
Coffee cup lids (plastic) Red bin Stack up to 20 lids together and put in the yellow bin.
Coffee pods (aluminium) – Nespresso brand Drop them off at Nespresso outlets or the closest Terracycle collection point Red bin

Did you know...? Pods are too small to be recovered by most materials recovery facilities and cannot be placed in the recycling bin.
Coffee pods (plastic) – Nescafé Dolce Gusto only Drop them off at a Terracycle collection point. Red bin

Did you know...? Pods are too small to be recovered by most materials recovery facilities and cannot be placed in the recycling bin.
Coffee pods – non-Nespresso brands Pods are too small to be recovered by most materials recovery facilities and cannot be placed in the recycling bin.
 		Red bin
Compostable plastic Compost bin, domestic or communal Red bin
Compact fluorescent light bulbs Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Composite packaging e.g. Pringles container Red bin

Did you know...? Composite packaging is a mix of materials such as plastic, foil, cardboard and tin.
Computer and computer parts Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Officeworks stores.

Did you know...? E-waste recycling is funded by industry and regulated by the Commonwealth government under the Product Stewardship Act 2011 to ensure the safe recycling of hazardous e-waste. 		Refer to the Recycling Near You website.
Concrete Visit the Business Recycling website Commercial waste facility
Construction and demolition See 'building materials'.
Cooking oil – left over Small amounts: Red bin. Pour into a container of absorbent material (e.g. shredded toilet rolls, paper, tissues, egg cartons etc) to absorb the liquid and prevent leaks when compacted in the truck and keep the bin clean. Liquid is not to be placed in the red bin in a container or bag. Alternatively, tip a small amount into a compost bin or garden soil.
Large amounts: Store in container and drop it off at the next Chemical Clean Out event
Corks Reverse Garbage or refer to the Recycling Near You website for other options. Council's Customer Service Centre, 2–14 Fisher Street, Petersham
Crockery Donate to charity, Freecycle
If broken, wrap in newspaper and place in the garbage bin.
Cups (ceramic) Donate to charity Red bin
Cutlery, disposable (plastic) Red bin
If you're having a party, consider asking guests to bring their own reusable cutlery. Next best option? Search for and purchase eco-friendly disposable products.
Cutlery (metal) Donate to charity Red bin

D

Item Preferred Alternative
Dental floss containers Yellow bin (empty) Terracycle collection – check website for locations
Detergents Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Directory, phone Opt out online or call 1800 008 292. Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Doors Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage or post on Buildbits, Freecycle or Gumtree. Visit the Business Recycling website for more suggestions.
Door handles Contact The Bower or post on Buildbits, Freecycle or Gumtree.
Drinking glasses Donate to charity Red bin
Drinking glasses (broken) – wrapped Red bin. Wrapped. The quality of glass is different to glass drinking bottles and can't be recycled - it contaminates the glass bottle recycling.
Dryer, clothes Council clean up service
Dust (bagged) Compost bin or worm farm Red bin
DVD case  Red bin 

E

Item Preferred Alternative
Egg cartons, cardboard Compost bin Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Elastic bands (natural or synthetic rubber) Red bin
Electrical appliances Donate to charity, The Bower, or refer to the Recycling Near You website. Council clean up service
Electronic waste e.g. computers, TVs, speakers. Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or refer to the Recycling Near You website.
Engine oil Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Envelopes (including window envelopes) Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Eyewear/glasses/spectacles Donate to charity, OPSM, or refer to the Recycling Near You website. Red bin

F

Item Preferred Alternative
Fabric cut-outs The Smith Family clothes recycling, Reverse Garbage Red bin
Fencing Contact The Bower or post on Buildbits. Council clean up service
Fibro (asbestos cement sheet) Visit the Recycling Near You website to find a disposal service. EPA website: Facilities that accept household asbestos
Fire extinguishers Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Fireplace (metal grate) Contact The Bower, or visit the Business Recycling website for more ideas.
Fireplace (timber mantelpiece) Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage or post on Buildbits, Freecycle or Gumtree. Council clean up service
Floss containers Yellow bin (empty) Terracycle collection – check website for locations
Flower pots – plastic Marrickville Community Nursery, Freecycle, or see Pinterest for inspiration on the creative reuse of flower pots. Red bin
Flower pots – pottery, terracotta, etc. Marrickville Community Nursery, Freecycle, or see Pinterest for inspiration on the creative reuse of flower pots. Red bin
Foam (i.e. expanded polystyrene or EPS) Find a drop-off facility nearby at the Recycling Near You website Red bin
Food scraps Compost bin or worm farm Red bin
Food cans/tins (aluminium or steel). Lightly washed Yellow bin

Did you know...? Aluminium is non-magnetic, while iron is magnetic. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon and is therefore magnetic. Stainless steel is sometimes magnetic.
Food containers, composite (mixed) materials  Red bin
Fridges Freecycle Council clean up service
Fruit and vegetable containers (plastic) Yellow bin
Fruit and vegetable scraps Compost bin or worm farm Red bin
Fuels e.g. petrol, firestarters, methylated spirits Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Furniture (e.g. tables, chairs, desks, beds, etc) Donate to charity, Freecycle; Reusable IKEA furniture - IKEA Tempe Council clean up service

G

Item Preferred Alternative
Garage door – metal, damaged Check the Recycling Near You website for scrap metal dealers. Commercial waste facility
Garden organics – grass clippings, leaves, twigs and small branches, flowers and prunings Green bin or, for excess branches, use the Council clean up service
Garden tools and equipment (unpowered) Donate to charity, Freecycle Council clean up service
Garden tools and equipment (powered) Donate to charity, Freecycle Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Gas bottles/cylinders Household chemical and e-waste drop-off;
Glass jars and bottles Reverse Garbage  Yellow bin
Glass (drinking, Pyrex) Donate to charity, Freecycle Red bin
Glass (broken) – wrapped Red bin
Glass (laminated and window) Contact a commercial waste facility or refer to the Recycling Near You website.
Glasses (sight and reading) Donate to charity, OPSM, or refer to the Recycling Near You website. Red bin
Gloss card Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin. Do the tearing test. If you can tear it, you can recycle it. Red bin
Grass clippings Green bin or compost bin
Green waste (bulky and untied) Contact Suez on 1300 651 116

H

Item Preferred Alternative
Hair foils (with hair dye) Red bin
Hard plastic, e.g. bike helmet Red bin – hard plastic breaks into shards and is not recyclable.
Hazardous waste Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Heaters (gas or electric) Donate to charity, Freecycle Council clean up service
Heaters (oil) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Council clean up service
Household appliances (metal) e.g. toaster Donate The Bower, Freecycle
Household chemical and e-waste drop-off 		Council clean up service
Household cleaners and solvents Household chemical and e-waste drop-off

I

Item Preferred Alternative
Ice cream carton (1 litre containters) Yellow bin
Incandescent light bulbs Red bin – wrap in newspaper first
Insulation Contact a commercial waste facility Visit the Business Recycling website

J

Item Preferred Alternative
Juice cartons (fresh – no foil-lining) Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Juice cartons (long-life – with foil lining) Red bin
Junk mail Contact Council and ask for a 'No advertising material' sticker Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin. Please remove any soft plastic wrapping

K

Item Preferred Alternative
Kitty litter or pet poo Red bin

L

Item Preferred Alternative
Lanyards Red bin
Laptops Donate to charity Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Lawn clippings Green bin or compost bin
Lawnmowers Donate to charity, Freecycle Council clean up service
Lever arch folders Try donating them Red bin
Lids of take-away cups (plastic) Yellow bin – up to 20 lids can be stacked together. Red bin
Light globes/bulbs – incandescent Red bin – wrap in newspaper first.
Light bulbs/tubes – fluorescent Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Red bin
Long-life liquid containers (foil lined) Red bin

M

Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Item Preferred Alternative
Magazines Donate to charity
Mailing satchels (prepaid and padded) Recycle at a TerraCycle drop-off location Recycle the soft plastic satchel at a supermarket (find your nearest store), Red bin
Mattresses Council clean up service
Meat trays, black (polystyrene or plastic) Red bin
Meat trays (compostable) Red bin
Medicines Take to your nearest chemist/pharmacy.
Mercury Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or contact Toxfree on 1300 869 373
Metals (toolboxes and similar) Freecycle Council clean up service
Metal frames (e.g. bed) Donate through Freecycle or Gumtree. Council clean up service
Metal poles Post on Buildbits Commercial waste facility
Metal rods, etc. Red bin
Microwave oven (not in working order) Council clean up service
Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Microwave oven, in working order Donate to charity, Freecycle Council clean up service
Microwave dish/container (composite plastics) Red bin
Milk/juice bottles Yellow bin
Milk/juice carton (fresh – not foil-lined) Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Milk/juice cartons (long-life – foil lined) Red bin
Milk crates Call Dairy Farmers on 1800 000 570
Mirrors (small) – wrapped Red bin
Mirrors (large) Freecycle Council clean up service
Mobile phones and batteries Visit the Mobile Muster website, drop them off at Council's Customer Service Centre at 2–14 Fisher Street, Petersham, drop them off at the next Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or refer to the Recycling Near You website for more options.
Mops Upcycling Red bin
Moulded plastic food trays – e.g. Tim Tam biscuit trays Yellow bin

N

Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Item Preferred Alternative
Nappies (disposable and compostable) Red bin
Needles and syringes Place them in a sharps container or a puncture resistant container (not glass) and dispose of them at a participating pharmacy. Visit the Safe Sharps website to find a sharps disposal location near you.
Newspaper Compost bin

O

Item Preferred Alternative
Oil (cooking) Small amounts: Red bin. Pour into a container of absorbent material (e.g. shredded toilet rolls, paper, tissues, egg cartons etc) to keep the bin clean. Alternatively, tip a small amount into a compost bin or soil.
Large amounts: Store in container and drop it off at the next Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Oil (engine) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Oil heaters Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Council clean up service

P

Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Item Preferred Alternative
Packaging (foam) Refer to the Recycling Near You website Red bin
Packaging (corn starch stuffing) Compost bin Red bin
Packaging (soft): foil-lined Red bin
Paint tints - full Advertise on a local buy/sell/swap forum e.g.Facebook Marketplace or ‘Street Bounty’ & Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Paint and solvents - half empty Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Paint tints – empty or dried-out Council clean up or Recycling Centre Red bin
Paper, cardboard and phone books Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Paper (grease-proof) Red bin
Paper towels and tissues Red bin

Did you know...? Paper towels and tissues cannot be recycled for hygiene reasons.
Pens and pencils Donate to charity Red bin
Pet food cans Yellow bin
Pet poo/kitty litter Red bin
Pillows and cushions (beyond reuse) Natural fibre fill Add fill to compost bin Red bin
Pillows and cushions (beyond reuse) synthetic fill Discard cover, pull out fill and reuse Red bin
Pipes (plastic) Post on Buildbits Commercial waste facility
Pizza boxes (with no leftover food) Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Phone directory Opt out online or call 1800 008 292
Plant pots (plastic) The Bower or take to a local community garden.
Plant pots (terracotta/ceramic) The Bower, Reverse Garbage, Freecycle Red bin
Plasterboard Visit the Business Recycling website Commercial waste facility
Plastic shopping bags Soft plastics drop-off at a local supermarket (find your nearest store)
Plastic bottles Yellow bin
Plastic cards (e.g. loyalty cards etc.) and thin plastic objects Red bin
Plastic food containers (single use) Yellow bin
Plastic food trays (biscuits) Yellow bin
Plastic food trays (meat) Red bin
Plastic-lined food wrapping Soft plastics drop-off at a local supermarket (find your nearest store) Red bin
Plastic netting (e.g. fruit netting) Soft plastics drop-off at a local supermarket (find your nearest store) Red bin
Plastic straws and strapping Red bin
Plastic storage containers (e.g. Tupperware) Donate to charity Red bin
Plastic takeaway containers (no leftover food) Yellow bin
Plastic toys Donate to charity, Freecycle Red bin
Plastic wraps, films and ziplock bags Soft plastics drop-off at a local supermarket (find your nearest store) Red bin
Plasticised foil wrap (e.g. tea bag wrapping) Red bin
Pottery/porcelain Donate to charity Red bin
Pots and pans (aluminium or steel) Donate to charity, Freecycle Council clean up service
Poisons, pesticides and herbicides Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Polystyrene (also known as foam) Find a drop-off facility nearby at the Recycling Near You website Red bin
Pringles containers (composite materials) Red bin
Printer cartridges Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi stores, Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, The Good Guys, Office National and Office Products Depot outlets.

Inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and toner bottles from most brands are accepted. This includes cartridges used in printers, photocopiers and fax machines. 		Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Pyrex (ovenware) Donate to charity, Freecycle Red bin

R

Item Preferred Alternative
Radios The Bower, Freecycle, Gumtree Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Razors Red bin
Records (vinyl) Donate to local radio station, a second hand shop or post on& Freecycle. 
&
Refrigerators Freecycle Council clean up service
Reusable shopping bags Check the Recycling Near You website Red bin
Ring binders (plastic) Try donating them Red bin
Ring binders (cardboard) Try donating them Red bin

S

Item Preferred Alternative
Sand Visit the Business Recycling website Commercial waste facility
Scrap metals Check the Recycling Near You website for metal recyclers.
Sharps/syringes

Place them in a sharps container or a puncture resistant container (not glass) and dispose of them at a participating pharmacy:

  • Dulwich Hill Pharmacy – 475 Marrickville Road, Dulwich Hill
  • Chemist Warehouse Marrickville – Shop 3/258 Illawarra Road, Marrickville
  • Blooms the Chemist Marrickville – 251 Marrickville Road, Marrickville
  • Fords Pharmacy Newtown – 247 King Street, Newtown
  • Bob's Chemist – 1/359 King Street, Newtown
  • Petersham Pharmacy – 76 Audley Street, Petersham
  • Stanmore Station Pharmacy – 104 Cambridge Street, Stanmore
 Visit the Safe Sharps website to find a sharps disposal location near you.
Shopping trolleys
  • Coles, Kmart, Target, Bunnings, Officeworks, Bi Lo: Report online
  • Woolworths, Dan Murphy, Big W, Target, IGA: Report online
  • Aldi: Phone 132 534.
Sinks, e.g. kitchen or laundry Reverse Garbage Council clean up service
Shoes Donate to charity Red bin
Smoke alarms Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Soft plastic packaging Soft plastics drop-off at a local supermarket (find your nearest store) Red bin
Soil and rocks Commercial waste facility
Soft drink bottles (plastic) Yellow bin
Spectacles Check the Recycling Near You website
Spice container (metal with plastic lid) Yellow bin (metal container) and red bin (lid)
Steel cans Yellow bin
Stoves Freecycle Council clean up service
Straws (plastic or paper) Red bin
Styrofoam (otherwise known as ‘foam’) or expanded polystyrene – EPS) Find a drop-off facility nearby at the Recycling Near You website Red bin
Swimming caps (in usable condition) Contact your local aquatic centre

T

Item Preferred Alternative
Take away food containers (no leftover food) Yellow bin
Tapes (VHS and cassette) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Check the Recycling Near You website
Tea bags Compost bin Red bin
Telephones Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Telephone books Opt out online or call 1800 008 292 Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin
Televisions, not working Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Council clean up service
Thermometers (mercury and digital) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Visit the Business Recycling website
Tiles Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage (non-broken tiles only) or post on Buildbits, Freecycle or Gumtree. Commercial waste facility
Timber Visit the Business Recycling website
Tissues and napkins Red bin
Toner cartridges Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi stores, Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, The Good Guys, Office National and Office Products Depot outlets.

Inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and toner bottles from most brands are accepted. This includes cartridges used in printers, photocopiers and fax machines. 		Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Toaster Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Tools (metal) Donate to charity, Freecycle Council clean up service
Tools (powered) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Toothbrushes Terracycle collection (check website for locations) – or reuse it as a grout scrubber. Red bin
Toothpaste tubes and caps Terracycle collection (check website for locations) Red bin
Trolleys
  • Coles, Kmart, Target, Bunnings, Officeworks, Bi Lo: Report online
  • Woolworths, Dan Murphy, Big W, Target, IGA: Report online
  • Aldi: Phone 132 534.
Tyres and wheels Check the Recycling Near You website for options Commercial waste facility

U

V

Item Preferred Alternative
Vacuum cleaner dust Compost bin Red bin
Vegetable scraps Compost bin Red bin
Video tapes Visit the Business Recycling website for drop-off locations, or take them to Council's next Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Red bin

W

Item Preferred Alternative
Washing machines Council clean up service
Waxed cardboard (e.g. fruit box) Red bin
White goods excluding freezers, fridges, air conditioners Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Windows (frame and glass panes) Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage or post on Buildbits. Commercial waste facility
Windows (glass) See 'Glass (laminated and window')
Wire coat hangers Offer to give them to your local laundry or dry cleaner
Wood shavings – untreated Contact your local community garden.
Wood shavings – treated Commercial waste facility
Wrapping paper Blue bin if you have one – if not, yellow bin

X

Item Preferred Alternative
X-ray films If you have small quantities, visit the Quantum Technical Services website for information and instructions. Household chemical and e-waste drop-off

Y

Item Preferred Alternative
Yoghurt containers (clean) Yellow bin

Z

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Page last updated: 19 Sep 2018