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A to Z Waste and Recycling Guide

Use this guide to locate drop-off points for items not accepted in Yarra bins.

Use this guide to find out where to drop off unwanted items, some of which aren’t accepted in Yarra bins.

Please remember that what we can and can’t recycle changes over time, as this is driven by the market for recycled materials. This guide is based on the best available information. 

If you are still unsure what to do with an item after using this guide, ask us “Can I Recycle This?” by clicking on the button below, take a photo of your item, and email it to us. Our waste team will do the investigating for you! 

Plastic items

Hard plastic buckets, plant pots, crates, storage containers, baskets, wheelie bins, compost bins, bread and milk crates, sandpit/swimming pool shells, blue and black electrical cable reels, truck mudguards/car bumper bars and corflute signs: 

Plastic beverage bottles between 150ml and 3L marked with the 10¢ refund logo:

  • Plastic bottles are plastic containers with a neck that are designed to hold liquids

  • This includes empty disposable water bottles, milk bottles, detergent bottles) can go in your recycling bin (no lids please) 

  • This includes empty ice-cream containers, yoghurt containers, margarine tubs, dip containers, takeaway containers, plant pots) can go in your recycling bin 
  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 
  • This includes plastic supermarket checkout bags, compostable bags, sandwich bags, postal bags, shrink wrap, pasta/rice/bread/biscuit outer bags, cereal box liners, frozen food packets, bubble wrap, plastic pockets and chip packets

  • Clifton Hill Recycling Centre (residents only) 

Glass items

Glass beverage bottles between 150ml and 3L marked with the 10¢ refund logo: 

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 
Paper and cardboard items

  • Cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towel and unwaxed cardboard boxes (flattened)

  • Egg cartons, pizza boxes (empty), and milk and juice cartons

  • Office paper, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, envelopes (including those with a window), books (apart from those made from mixed materials)

  • Wrapping paper (ribbons and bows removed, no plastic/shiny/metallic paper please) and greeting cards (apart from those made from mixed materials or that include batteries) 

Coffee cups, paper towel, receipts, waxed cardboard and paper/cardboard based products that also contain other types of materials (such as foil, plastic, wax or fabric):

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin  

Drink cartons between 150ml and 3L marked with the 10¢ refund logo:

Other milk, juice and stock cartons:

  • Recycling bin

Electronic items

Please remember to protect your personal information by securely and permanently wiping any data from your device first. 

Clifton Hill Recycling Centre (maximum 20kg per drop off), including for 

  • Computers and accessories

  • Printers

  • TVs

  • Kettles and blenders

  • Cameras

  • Mobile phones and accessories

  • Stereo equipment, CD players, DVD and VCR recorders 

Please note not all op shops accept electronic items, check first.

Trade ins are available at some retails 

Polystyrene and foam items

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 
Metal items

Aluminium beverage bottles between 150ml and 3L marked with the 10¢ refund logo: 

Aluminium foil (scrunched) and metal cans and tins (e.g. food tins, pet food tins, steel food cans, aluminium drink cans and paint tins):

  • Recycling bin 

Metal lids from bottles:

  • Recycling bin 

Food scraps and garden waste

Tea bags, food packaging (including compostable/biodegradable packaging) and non-organic garden waste (such as garden hoses):

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 

Clothing and textiles

  • Some clothing and shoe retailers (specialist recycling programs) 

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 

Batteries

Building materials and renovation waste

  • Building and renovation waste includes:

    • Bricks

    • Concrete

    • Dirt and soil

    • Plasterboard

    • Rubble and stones

    • Timber

  • Small amounts (e.g. off-cuts) of carpet and carpet underlay can be included in your next hard waste collection

  • For other building/renovation waste, contact a transfer station to see if they will accept it or organise a private collection service (permit information available here

Chemicals and hazardous waste

  • Detox your Home drop-off events (accepted household chemicals and quantities only, registration required) 
Bicycles and bike tyres and tubes

Car parts

Hygiene related items

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 
  • Give away, sell or donate to friends or family with or expecting a baby

  • Give away, sell or donate to others online via

  • Donation to op shop (reusable nappies in good condition only) 

Kitchenware and household items

  • Kitchenware includes reusable crockery, cutlery, food containers, trays and bakeware

  • Give away, sell or donate kitchenware in good condition (see above) 

Oil

Pet items and animal waste

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 
  • Give away, sell or donate to friends, family or online via:

  • Donation to op shop (pet products in good condition only, check first) 

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 
Ink cartridges

  • Refill for reuse 
Eye glasses

  • Some optometry practices

  • Rubbish (landfill) bin 

Donate/sell/give away items

  • Donation to op shop (items in good condition only) 
Other items

  • Cigarette butts and lighters (empty)

  • Corks, photographs

  • Trigger, spray and pump lids

  • Vacuum cleaner dust  

  • Baby goods (accepted items only)

  • Light bulbs and tubes (no fluorescent ones please)

  • X-rays 

  • Vapes

For other disposal options, visit Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You or contact a Waste Transfer Station to see if they're able to accept it.