Recycling

Recycling helps reduce waste sent to landfill and allows valuable materials to be reused. This section will help you understand what you can recycle, what to keep out of your recycling bin, and how to recycle correctly. 

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What can be recycled 

You can place the following items loose in your yellow‑lidded recycling bin: 

  • Paper and cardboard 
    (newspapers, magazines, office paper, boxes – flattened) 

  • Plastic containers 
    (bottles and containers from milk, drinks, cleaning products and food) 

  • Glass bottles and jars 
    (rinsed and empty, lids removed) 

  • Aluminium and steel cans 
    (drink cans, food tins, aerosol cans – empty) 

Make sure items are empty and free of food scraps before placing them in the recycling bin. 

What cannot be recycled 

The following items must not go in your recycling bin, as they contaminate recyclable materials: 

  • Plastic bags, soft plastics or cling wrap 

  • Food waste or liquid 

  • Nappies, sanitary items or medical waste 

  • Polystyrene or foam packaging 

  • Broken glass, mirrors or ceramics 

  • Garden waste or timber 

  • Clothing or textiles 

  • Batteries or electronic items 

If you’re unsure, place the item in your general waste bin or take it to an appropriate disposal or recycling facility. 

Recycling tips 

Simple habits can improve recycling outcomes: 

  • Empty and rinse containers before recycling 

  • Remove lids from bottles and jars 

  • Flatten cardboard to save space in the bin 

  • Place items loose in the bin – do not bag recyclables 

  • When in doubt, leave it out and put it in general waste 

Contaminated recycling can result in entire loads being rejected and sent to landfill – so recycling correctly makes a real difference. 

For other tips such as how to recycle batteries and electronics, visit Waste Programs for more information.

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