Yarra is committed to being a sustainable city. We have a long-term ambition to move our community towards zero waste in landfill. 

We want to help you become a more conscious consumer which will help you reduce waste. Discover how you can reduce your waste footprint.

What you can recycle

Kerbside recycling bins

Every household, business and building serviced by Council will now have three bins to separate and manage their waste and recycling. We’ve introduced a purple-lid glass-only recycling bin and made changes to what goes in the yellow-lid recycling bin.  

For more information about what can/can’t go in your recycling bins check out our A to Z Waste and Recycling Guide. 

Local recycling initiatives and drop-offs

Yarra’s Clifton Hill Recycling Drop-off Centre accepts lots of waste materials that can’t be recycled in your kerbside bins, including electronic waste, metals, clothing, paints, polystyrene and some soft and hard plastics.

We have developed an online tool to help residents and businesses alike to join the circular economy. The circular economy helps us all reduce waste by reframing how we think about the value of materials. Circular economy principles aim to design out waste from the beginning and keep products in use for longer. Find out more on Yarra’s Circular Economy Map webpage.

Soft plastics

Plastic bags and other soft plastics do NOT belong in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

The plastic material gets trapped in the machinery, creating issues with the sorting process. Your recycling should be loose and plastic bag free!

We accept some soft plastics at the Clifton Hill Recycling Drop-off Centre.

Our recycling processor partner, APR Plastics, has built the technology to recycle soft plastics into new plastic products.

This technology is the first of its kind in Australia and we're thrilled to have this partnership in place to help divert soft plastics from landfill. Watch the video below to learn more.

Food waste and composting at home

We’re committed to rolling out a separate food and green service as soon as possible. In the meantime, here’s some other things you can do with your food and garden waste: 

• Book a green waste service (for garden waste only) 
• Set up a worm form or home compost 
• Find a local food waste or compost drop off by checking out Yarra's Zero Waste map or ShareWaste

A to Z recycling guide

We've developed an A to Z Waste and Recycling Guide to help you determine how and where to dispose of your household items.

If you still aren’t sure what to do with an item, take a photo and submit it below. Our waste team will get back to you.  

CAN I RECYCLE THIS?

Container Deposit Scheme

The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is a Victorian Government initiative that rewards Victorians with a 10 cent refund for every eligible drinking container at designated refund points.

Where can I go to drop off my containers?

You can visit any participating location to drop off your containers. The below locations are ready to accept containers from 1 November 2023:

• IGA Abbotsford, 306-310 Johnston Street, Abbotsford
• Cherish Health Richmond, 184 Bridge Road, Richmond
• The Lott Richmond, 136 Swan Street, Richmond

More locations will be added in the coming months, including a range of self-service “reverse vending machines”. View locations on the map on the Container Deposit Scheme website.

What materials can or cannot be accepted through the CDS?

Residents will be reimbursed for recycling eligible drinking containers between 150ml and 3L including:

• cans
• small juice and flavoured milk cartons
• glass bottles
• plastic bottles.

However some containers will not be accepted including wine bottles, spirit bottles, juice bottles over 1L, milk bottles, milk cartons, jam jars, and passata jars.

If you have any questions please visit the Container Deposit Scheme Contact Us page.

Recycling for businesses

We have resources and initiatives for Yarra businesses who are looking to improve the way they manage their waste and recycling.

For businesses who would like for more information or support, visit the business waste collection page. 

Recycling in multi-unit developments

Yarra offers tools, guidelines and educational resources to help improve waste and recycling management for residents and property managers in apartment blocks and multi-unit developments. 

Visit the information for apartments, units and townhouses page.

Recycling Victoria policy

Yarra Council supports the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria: a new economy policy (1.67MB, PDF), a 10 year action plan to transform the state’s recycling sector. It will mean a cleaner, greener Victoria with less waste, better recycling, less pollution, more jobs and an even stronger economy.

The policy will mean that every Council across Victoria will offer a four-bin waste and recycling system.

In 2019, Yarra trialed a four-bin system in Abbotsford with 1,300 households and in 2020 rolled out a third glass bin across the municipality.

Waste minimisation and resource recovery strategy 2018–2022

Learn more about what we're doing with recycling by downloading our Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy.