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 on the webpage.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search Recycling Near You for more options.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| 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 |
| Bread tags |
Due to their small size, bread tags can not go in the yellow recycling bin. Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs is an organisation that recycles them locally, raising funds to buy wheelchairs for disadvantaged people, mainly in South Africa. Find a collection point on this map. |
| Building and construction material | Cannot go in kerbside bins or be collected through Council Clean Up Collections. Check the state waste regulations. |
| C | |
| Cameras | Analogue film or digital cameras can be dropped off at any Ted's Cameras store. Find your nearest Ted's store here and learn more about Ted's Camera Recycling Program here. |
| 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. Wetsuits can be recycled, search for the keyword 'wetsuit' in this guide to learn more. |
| Cling wrap | Return dry with other soft plastics to a REDcycle collection point or put into the 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 cannot 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 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. |
| Fruit stickers | Stick fruit stickers to another piece of soft plastic and bring to a REDcycle collection point. |
| 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 - Metal | Jar metal lids should not be screwed to a glass jar but placed in the yellow bin separately. Beer bottle metal caps can be placed in a metal can (e.g. tomato can) and then placed in the yellow bin to prevent them from being lost in the material recycling facility. |
| Lids - Plastic | Plastic lids can be recycled and placed in the yellow bin. |
| Light bulbs and fluorescent tubes | Bring to a problem waste 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 are 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 provided packaging (e.g. plastic wrap) is removed. |
| 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, contact the brand you bought it from to check if they have a recycling program. Otherwise, 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 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. |
| Netting produce bags | Can be returned to a REDcycle collection point provided any metal clips have been removed. |
| Newspapers | Recycle it right in your blue bin. Take off any plastic packaging and return dry empty packaging to a REDcycle collection point. |
| O | |
| Oral care products | Toothpaste tubes and caps, manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrush heads, and floss containers are accepted at our problem waste stations located at the Customer Service Centre or the Library in Bondi Junction. |
| 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 inflatables | Pool toys in good condition can be recycled through PLOYS. Their NSW collection point is located in Tweed Heads so the most convenient option for Waverley residents is to post them. In return, PLOYS offer a $10 voucher/store credit. Punctured pool inflatables have to be placed 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 station, Officeworks, or other collection points 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 and make sure any large pieces are cut into A3 sizes. |
| Soil | Soil cannot be placed in Council green bin. Advertise locally in platforms such as Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Alternatively, contact a waste clearance service company to have it removed. For big quantities, consider hiring a skip bin. For small amounts, residents with a lawn can top dress it with the soil. |
| T | |
| Tablet (electronic device) | If still in working condition, consider selling online or donating. If not working, bring along to a problem waste station or a problem drop-off waste 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 | |
| Vape and e-cigarettes | E-cigarette and e-liquid (liquid nicotine mixtures) waste should not be thrown in any of the kerbside bins or flushed down a sink. Instead, take them to one of our quarterly problem waste drop-off events. |
| VHS tapes | Take to a problem waste drop-off event. |
| W | |
| Wetsuits | There are two options to recycle wetsuits. Rip Curl and Terracycle have partnered to recycle wetsuits. Check their website and call the store before your visit. Alternatively, you can drop off your old wetsuit at Let's Go Surfing in North Bondi. Wetsuits need to be fully dry and free of sand. Learn more. |
| 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. If possible, unscrew the lid from the bottle and place it loosely in the recycling bin. |
| X | |
| X-ray films | Collect in a small box or bag and take to a problem waste station or a problem waste drop-off event. |