A-Z Waste & Recycling guide

It is important to know where to dispose of items correctly. Use the list below to find out where your unwanted items can be recycled, collected or disposed of. You can use the alphabet bar below to scroll to the first letter of the item you are looking for, or use the Ctrl+F keys to search in the webpage.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search Recycling Near You for more options.

Item	Where it should go
A
Aerosol cans (empty)	Empty aerosol cans can be recycled in your yellow bin.
Aerosol cans (not empty)	Aerosol cans with material still inside are a hazard when put into the yellow bin. Take to a Chemical CleanOut event or a Community Recycling Centre. Find a location
Asthma inhalers (empty)	Separate the canister from the plastic holder before placing both in the yellow recycling bin. Spacers cannot be recycled and they go in your red bin.
Asthma inhalers (not empty)	Expired inhalers that are not empty can be returned to your local pharmacy.
B
Batteries – household	Batteries contain toxic metals that can be harmful to the environment. Bring them to a problem waste drop off station in Bondi Junction or a problem waste drop off event. Alternatively, take them to Aldi, Officeworks, IKEA or other collection points. Consider swapping to rechargeable batteries.
Batteries – car	Take to a Chemical CleanOut event or a Community Recycling Centre. Find a location
Building and construction material	Cannot go in kerbside bins or collected through Council Clean Up Collections. Check the state waste regulations.
C
Cans (aluminium and steel)	Recycle it right in your yellow recycling bin.
Cardboard	Recycle it right in your blue recycling bin ensuring it's flattened.
Cardboard (bulk)	Store dry and bring to our problem waste drop off events.
Cardboard (waxed)	Dispose of it in your red bin as the wax coating cannot be recycled at the recycling facility.
CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and USBs	Consider donating at first, otherwise, take them to Officeworks or bring them to our problem waste drop off events.
Chemicals (domestic)	Household chemicals are hazardous and must be disposed of correctly. Take to a Chemical CleanOut event Find a location
Chip packets (soft plastics)	Return dry empty packaging to a REDcycle collection point.
Chocolate bar wrapper (soft plastics)	Return dry empty packaging to a REDcycle collection point.
Clothes hangers	Dispose of in your red bin as they get caught in the recycling system and cause damage to machinery. If they’re intact, donate them to your local dry cleaner or charity shop.
Clothing, textiles, linen and accessories	Good condition items can be donated to charitable organisations for resale or rehoming. Damaged or unsellable items may be recovered through retailer run programs. Learn more.
Cling wrap	Return dry with other soft plastics to a Redcycle collection point or put into red bin.
Coffee cups – disposable	The best way to reduce disposable coffee cup waste is to choose a reusable cup. If you do use a disposable coffee cup, check the list of 7-Eleven stores that partner with 7-Eleven to recycle coffee cups here. If at home, disposable coffee cups must go in the red bin due to the interior plastic lining.
Coffee cups – lids	Takeaway coffee cup lids should be placed in a red bin.
Compostable plastic	Neither biodegradable nor compostable packaging should be put in your recycling bin as it causes contamination. If you are not able to compost at your own home, place it in your red bin.
Computers – PCs, laptops, components and accessories,	If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, take to Officeworks or bring along to our problem waste drop off events.
Corks	Corks can be reused for craft purposes, as garden mulch or can be placed in a compost bin if you have one (note they cannot be placed in your green waste bin). Otherwise, they have to be disposed of in the red bin.
F
Flares	Flares contain explosive matter and should be taken to a flares collection item. Find a collection site near you.
Foil	Clean aluminium foil (scrunched together in a fist-sized ball) and trays go in your yellow recycling bin. If the aluminium foil has lots of food scraps or oil on it, place it in the red bin.
Food scraps and waste	If you are not able to compost at your own home, try connecting to others who do through ShareWaste. Otherwise, place it in your red bin.
Furniture	If still in good condition, consider selling online or donating. The Bower Collection and Rehoming Service provides Waverley Council residents with reuse and rehoming options for items that are still in good condition. Learn more. If broken or unusable, call customer service at 02 9083 8000 to book one of your free clean-up collections. Learn more.
G
Gas bottles	Gas bottles are hazardous waste. Take to a Chemical CleanOut event or a Community Recycling Centre. Find a location.
Glass bottles and jars	Recycle it right in your yellow bin.
H
Heaters, hot water	Hot water heaters can be taken to Sita Rockdale for free recycling. Call 1300 651 116 for more information.
Heaters, oil	Empty oil heaters can be taken to Sita Rockdale for free recycling. Call 1300 651 116 for more information. Oil heaters with oil remaining inside can be taken to a Chemical CleanOut event.
J
Junk Mail	Place any paper mail in the blue bin making sure to remove any plastic wrapping beforehand. Consider putting a 'No Junk Mail' sticker on your mailbox to reduce unwanted marketing material.
K
Kitchen appliances (toaster, kettle, etc.)	If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, bring along to a problem waste drop off event.
Kitty litter	Kitty litter should be disposed of in the red bin.
L
Lids - Plastic	Remove lids from containers and place them into the yellow bin.
Light Bulbs and Fluorescent tubes	Bring to a problem waste drop off station, a problem waste drop off event or a Household Chemical CleanOut event or Community Recycling Centre (find a location).
Liquid Paper Board containers (foil-lined)	These containers are used for long-life products (e.g. UHT milk, Tetrapak) and are not recyclable in Waverley. Check to see if the container can be taken to Return and Earn collection points for a 10c refund, otherwise put them in the red bin.
Liquid Paper Board containers (non-foil lined)	LPB containers (used for chilled juice or milk) without the foil lining recycled right in your blue bin. Containers under 1L may be taken to Return and Earn collection points for a 10c refund.
M
Magazines	Recycle it right in your blue bin, please remove any packaging (e.g. plastic wrap).
Makeup and beauty packaging	Clean and empty containers of any brand can be taken to Priceline, Mecca, David Jones, or mailed to Flora & Fauna for recycling.
Mattresses	If no longer usable, call customer service at 02 9083 8000 to book one of your free clean-up collections. Learn more.
Medicines (unwanted)	You can bring old, expired and other unwanted medicines to RUM (Return Unwanted Medicines) Project participating pharmacies. RUM Project is a national scheme and you can find your nearest participating pharmacy online.
Mobile Phones	If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, bring along to a problem waste drop off station or a problem waste drop off event. Alternatively, bring them to your nearest Officeworks.
Motor Oil	Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event or a Community Recycling Centre. Find a location.
N
Nappies (disposable)	Nappies go in the red bin.
Needles and syringes	You can bring needles to one of the community disposal sites around Waverley. Learn more.
Newspapers	Recycle it right in your blue bin. Take off any plastic packaging and return dry empty packaging to a Redcycle collection point
P
Paint (household)	Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event or a Community Recycling Centre. Find a location.
Paper	Recycle it right in your blue bin.
Paper towels	Dispose in the red bin. The paper fibres are too short to be recycled and can pose a health issue for people sorting on the processing line.
Pens & markers	Take to Officeworks for recycling.
Plastic containers	Recycle it right in your yellow bin. Small plastic containers (with recycling symbols 1, 2, 3, 5) include yoghurt tubs, shampoo bottles, etc.
Pizza boxes	Boxes that are not too greasy can go in the blue bin, if you're unsure, remove the greasy part and put that in the red bin.
Polystyrene foam (EPS)	Polystyrene foam or styrofoam cannot be recycled in your kerbside bins. Bring along to our problem waste drop off events or dispose of in the red bin.
Pool pumps	Pool pumps that are made of more than 90% metal can be recycled for free at Sita Rockdale. Pool pumps that are less than 90% metal can be taken to Sita Rockdale but disposal will incur a fee. Call 1300 651 116 for more information
Printer cartridges	Bring laser and inkjet cartridges to a Council problem waste drop off station, Officeworks, or other collection point for recycling.
S
Salad bags	Return dry empty packaging to a Redcycle collection point.
Shoes, sporting	Sporting shoes and thongs can be taken to the nearest Tread Lightly collection point.
Smoke detectors	Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event or a Community Recycling Centre. Find a location.
Soft plastics	Return dry empty soft plastics (e.g. bubble wrap) to a Redcycle collection point, make sure any large pieces are cut into A3 sizes.
T
Tablet (electronic device)	If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, bring along to a problem waste drop off station or a problem waste drop off event.
Televisions	If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, bring along to our problem waste drop off events.
Tins or cans	Lightly rinse, dry and recycle it right in your yellow bin.
V
VHS Tapes	Take to a problem waste drop off event.
W
White goods (fridges, washing machines, etc)	If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, call customer service at 02 9083 8000 to book one of your free clean-up collections. Learn more.
Wine bottles	Recycle it right in your yellow container recycling bin
X
X-ray films	Collect in a small box or bag and take to a problem waste drop off station or a problem waste drop off event.