Correct bin use

Your red-lidded bin is collected weekly and is for non-recyclable household rubbish which is taken to landfill. One red bin is allocated to each separated or individual household while residents in apartments share larger bins.  

Your red bin should be used to dispose:

• food waste,
• plastic bags and wrappers,
• foam,
• nappies,
• ceramics,
• glassware,
• mirrors,
• crockery and
• other non-recyclable household rubbish. 

Your yellow-lidded bin is collected fortnightly and is for recyclable containers which are taken to a facility to be sorted into their different material types (e.g. glass, aluminium, steel and plastic). One yellow bin is allocated to each separated or individual household while residents in apartments share bins.   

Your yellow bin should be used to recycle:

• single-use plastic bottles, tubs and containers you typically use in the kitchen, bathroom or laundry,
• single-use glass bottles and jars, and
• aluminium, steel and aerosol cans.

You can recycle right by:

• Putting plastic bags, wrap and film in your red bin;
• Placing all items in your yellow bin loosely;
• Emptying food and liquids from bottles, containers and jars and replacing lids; and 

Why can’t I put plastic bags in the recycling bin?

It’s not safe for recycling facility workers to open plastic bags full of recycling, and the bags get caught in the sorting machines. The bags have to be picked off the conveyor belt and sent to landfill so the recycling in plastic bags doesn’t get recycled.

Your blue-lidded bin is collected fortnightly and is for paper and cardboard, which is taken to a facility to be made into new paper products. One blue bin is allocated to each separated or individual household while residents in apartments share bins.   

Your blue bin should be used to recycle:

• newspaper, magazines and catalogues,
• pizza boxes with food removed,
• phone books,
• flattened cardboard and
• milk, juice and cream cartons.

Paper should be clean (no food scraps, oils, paints etc).

Your green-lidded bin is collected fortnightly and is for garden cuttings which are taken to a composting facility and turned into compost and mulch. One green bin is allocated to each separated or individual household while residents in apartments share bins if the Owners’ Corporation has formally requested this service through Council.

Your green bin should be used to recycle:

• grass clippings,
• leaves,
• cut flowers,
• weeds,
• small twigs and branches (<500mm long and <100mm thick), and
• garden prunings.

Garden organics should be placed in the green bin loosely. Tree stumps, logs and soil are not permitted in the green bin.