Rejected bins

Bins may be rejected by the Resource Recovery Collection Team for a various reasons. 

What to do if your bin has been rejected

• Make sure you have placed the correct materials in your bin.   Placing incorrect items in your bin is called 'contamination'. Contamination in recycling can mean a whole truckload of materials will need to be disposed of in landfill instead of being recycled. Please remove incorrect items from your bin and place your bin out on your next collection day. 
• Check that your bin weighs less than 70kg. If you cannot lift the front of the bin and move it with one hand, then it is too heavy. You will need to remove items from the bin and save them for your next collection.
• Ensure your bin lid can close. If your bin is overflowing, rubbish will spill on the street when it is emptied, and the truck cannot collect it. You will need to remove items from the bin and save them for your next collection.

If the contaminants are not easily removed, please report the rejected bin to Council and leave the rejected sticker on the bin. A photo must be provided of the bin contents.

Possible contaminants 

See below for possible contaminants that may help explain why your bin was rejected.

Recycling bin 

The following items in your recycling bin may be why it was rejected:

• Soft plastics
• Food scraps  
• Textiles  
• Soiled paper (wet, stained, or heavily taped)
• Polystyrene  
• E-Waste 

Please remove incorrect items from your bin, tear off the rejected sticker and place your bin out on your next collection day.

If you are unsure which item is a contaminant or if the contaminants are not easily removed, please report the rejected bin to council.  Leave the rejected sticker on the bin and a Resource Recovery Officer will contact you to discuss and assist.

Food organics, Garden Organics (FOGO) bin

The following items in your FOGO bin may be why it was rejected: 

• Soil
• Large branches (cut into smaller pieces or book a Council clean-up)
• Plastic bags
• Packaged food (remove food from packaging first)
• General household 
• Building materials

Please remove incorrect items from your bin, tear off the rejected sticker and place your bin out on your next collection day.

If unsure which item is a contaminant or the contaminants are not easily removed, please report the rejected bin to council using our online request system below. Leave rejected sticker on the bin and a Resource Recovery Officer will contact you to discuss and assist.

Garbage bin 

The following items in your garbage bin may be why it was rejected:

• Building materials 
• Paints and solvents
• Chemicals
• Batteries 
• Syringes  
• E-Waste 

Please remove incorrect items from your bin, tear off the rejected sticker and place your bin out on your next collection day.