A-Z: What goes where?

Before disposing of an unwanted item, consider selling, giving away or donating:

Gumtree or FreeCycle
Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage
Op Shop can help you find your nearest donation location

Check the following charities to find out what you can donate:

Council bins

Red bin – Garbage
Yellow bin – Recycling
Green bin – Food organics garden organics (FOGO)
Burgundy bin – Food organics garden organics (FOGO)

Both green and burgundy bins are collected by the FOGO truck for apartment blocks. Burgundy lid bins will be swapped for green lids in the future.

Unsure how to dispose of an item? Type your item or material into the search bar below:

Item	Which bin or service?	Advice and suggestions
Item: A
Item: Aerosol cans	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin (can emptied) Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions: Unemptied cans: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off, Community Recycling Centre Terracycle collection
Item: Air conditioner	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Portable only. For other types of air conditioners search Business Recycling Website
Item: Air freshener	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: This includes cans, spray bottles, plug-in and refills. Check Terracycle, some brands may have recycling programs for their products.
Item: Aluminium	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin (Cans, containers, trays, clean foil) Yellow bin (clean foil - collect and scrunch to tennis-ball size) Red bin (dirty foil)	Advice and suggestions: Drink containers can be recycled at a Return and Earn recycling station
Item: Animal waste	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Animal waste is not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more
Item: Asbestos	Which bin or service?: Visit the EPA website to find facilities that accept household asbestos.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: B
Item: Barbecues	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods.	Advice and suggestions: Remove the gas bottle/cylinder, they cannot be collected in a clean up. See 'gas bottle' for disposal options
Item: Batteries Do not place batteries in any of your bins. They are hazardous and can cause fires.	Which bin or service?: Community Recycling Centre Household chemical and e-waste drop-off HomeCycle collects batteries including rechargeable, non-rechargeable, small handheld batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V), lantern watch and button batteries and standard size handheld rechargeable batteries up to 5kg. Place batteries in a zip lock bag for safety. Ensure button batteries and 9-volt batteries are stored separately, as they can ignite when they come into contact with each other and cause a fire.	Advice and suggestions: B-cycle provides drop-off points for household batteries, this includes most major supermarkets. Find your nearest drop-off point For mobile phone batteries check MobileMuster For more options visit Recycling Near You
Item: Beauty products	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Terracycle - Beauty product recycling Marrickville Metro has partnered with Terracycle - drop off your beauty products at the Metro Recycling Wall
Item: Bicycles and bicycle parts	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Revolve Recycling The Bower Check Bicycle NSW
Item: BioPak compostable packaging	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: In line with EPA guidelines, we do not accept compostable packaging in our FOGO stream, even if the packaging has the seedling logo. This is to ensure the highest quality compost will go onto farmlands. Fibre-based food containers are generally made from sugarcane pulp (bagasse) and cannot be recycled in the yellow-lid bin. Even though the product looks similar to cardboard, it cannot be recycled with cardboard and paper.
Item: Blister Packs	Which bin or service?: Red bin HomeCycle collects blister packs	Advice and suggestions: Recycle medicinal blister packs with the Pharmacycle program.
Item: Books	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Not suitable to sell or donate? Pull off the cover and recycle the pages Donate to charity, Op shop The Bower The Footpath Library Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle
Item: Bottles	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin (glass, plastic or metal) *Broken Bottles - wrap in newspaper and place in red bin	Advice and suggestions: Drink containers can be recycled at a Return and Earn station. Some restrictions apply, see website for details.
Item: Branches	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - branches	Advice and suggestions: Branches should be cut to 1m in length and bundled. Maximum 1 metre in length and 15 centimetres in diameter. Small branches and other garden organics can be placed in your green bin (FOGO). Any small branches or palm fronds, please make sure they are no more than 10cm in diameter and no more than 100cm long. The lid of the bin must be able to shut by collection day.
Item: Bricks	Which bin or service?: Hire a skip bin for construction waste Check with: Business Recycling Website, The Bower, Reverse Garbage (concrete-free bricks only). Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle	Advice and suggestions:
Item: C
Item: Carton (Tetra Pak)	Which bin or service?: Foil-lined - Red bin Non-foil - Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Includes juice, milk or any beverage/liquid cardboard carton (sometimes known as Tetra Pak) Foil-lined cartons are typically brick shaped and contain products such as long-life milk Non-foil lined cartons have gable tops and are usually found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket Foil / non-foil lined containers under 1 litre in size are accepted by Return and Earn Visit Recycling Near You to find out more about carton recycling
Item: Candles	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Find out how to recycle wax candles at home
Item: Cameras	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle
Item: Cardboard	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Don't overfill your recycling bin, you can drop off excess cardboard at Council's Weekend Transfer Station in Leichhardt.
Item: Car parts	Which bin or service?: Visit Recycling Near You	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Carpet, rugs and underlay	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - bulky household items	Advice and suggestions: Hire a skip bin Business Recycling website The Bower, Reverse Garbage
Item: Cellophane	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Chemicals	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Remember to store chemicals safely before the next event. If you missed the Inner West's event check the EPA website
Item: Christmas tree (real)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - branches	Advice and suggestions: If you have a real Christmas tree that doesn't fit in the garden bin, cut into 1 metre long branches, bundle and book a collection
Item: Cigarette butts	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Bin that butt - encourage your friends to as well
Item: Cling wrap	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some major supermarkets have recommenced soft plastics collection through a trial. Find participating supermarkets in NSW HomeCycle collects soft plastics via a pickup service
Item: Clothing and textiles	Which bin or service?: Watch this video about donating clothing and textiles ethically Red bin HomeCycle collects wearable and unwearable clothing	Advice and suggestions: Donate wearable clothes to your local charity/op shop. Some retailers will accept unwearable textiles including H&M Tear up unwearable clothing or textiles for cleaning rags or donate them to your local animal shelter or vet. Other clothing and textile recyclers include: Re Place Dress for Success Upparel
Item: Coat hangers	Which bin or service?: Red bin Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions: Metal (wire): Large amounts can be collected in a council clean up - metal and whitegoods Wood, plastic, other: Large amounts can be collected in a council clean up - bulky household items Undamaged hangers can be donated to your local laundromat or dry cleaner Post on Gumtree, Facebook, Freecycle
Item: Coffee cups (takeaway/disposable)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Try using a reusable coffee cup instead! Most takeaway coffee cups contain a plastic lining which contaminates the paper recycling stream so they cannot go in the yellow-lid bin. Some shopping centres, petrol stations and other retailers have partnered with Simply Cups - a coffee cup recycling program. 7/11 have a useful map of locations - please be mindful that each collection point cannot process large quantities. It's still better to use a reusable coffee cup. Coffee cup lids - these are too light to be processed in the recycling facility, they fly off the machinery and can be blown into the wrong material stream. Compostable coffee cups - we do not accept compostable coffee cups in our FOGO stream, even if the seedling logo is present. This is to ensure the highest quality compost will go onto farmlands. Compostable coffee cups can be recycled through Simply Cups. Some compostable coffee cups are home compostable.
Item: Coffee capsule/pod	Which bin or service?: Red bin HomeCycle collects aluminium coffee pods	Advice and suggestions: Most brands (e.g Nespresso, Nescafe) may allow used capsule/pod drop-offs in store, or partner with Terracycle. Contact the brand or check Terracycle for updates
Item: Coffee grounds (loose)	Which bin or service?: Green bin Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks)	Advice and suggestions: Only use Council-provided or AS4736 compostable liners (look for the seedling logo). Green lid bins and burgundy lid bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: Compostable plastic	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some biodegradable/compostable plastics break down in home composts. Check with the manufacturer. Compostable plastics are not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more.
Item: Concrete	Which bin or service?: Hire a skip bin for construction waste Visit the Business Recycling website	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Contact lenses and cases	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some brands may partner with Terracycle Specsavers - How to recycle contact lenses
Item: Corks	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: The Bower, Reverse Garbage
Item: Crockery	Which bin or service?: Red bin Council clean up service - bulky household items	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity/op shop Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle If broken, wrap in newspaper and place in the garbage bin Large amounts can be booked in for council clean up service - bulky household items
Item: Cutlery	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: BYO reusable cutlery to events or places that may not provide cutlery Plastic single-use cutlery is now banned in NSW and cannot be recycled Bamboo/wooden compostable cutlery cannot go in the green FOGO bin and cannot be recycled Donate metal cutlery to charity/op shops
Item: D
Item: Dental floss containers	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Terracycle - Oral Care Recycling Program
Item: Detergents	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Consider making your own Keep the container and only buy refills Terracycle - Dish and Air Care Recycling Program
Item: Disposable plates	Which bin or service?: Plastic - Red bin Cardboard - Yellow bin Fibre-based - Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Clean - remove food scraps Disposable plastics plates are now banned in NSW Fibre-based compostable plates cannot go in the green FOGO bin
Item: Dishwashing tablet packaging	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Terracycle collection
Item: Dog poo	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Dog poo is not allowed in the FOGO bin. Find out more.
Item: Doors and door handles	Which bin or service?: The Bower, Reverse Garbage Post on Gumtree, Facebook, Freecycle Visit the Business Recycling website	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Drinking glasses/cups (glass)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Broken glasses must be wrapped The quality of glass is different to glass drinking bottles and can't be recycled - it contaminates the glass bottle recycling
Item: Dryer	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Still working? Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle
Item: Dust (bagged)	Which bin or service?: Compost bin or worm farm Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: E
Item: Egg cartons	Which bin or service?: Compost Bin Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Egg cartons, like all animal produce packaging is designed to be single-use to minimise contact with possibly harmful bacteria - Keep this in mind before reusing
Item: Elastic bands (natural or synthetic rubber)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Reuse them to reseal food packages
Item: Electrical appliances	Which bin or service?: Council clean up - bulky household items	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity or The Bower For more options visit Recycling Near You
Item: Electronic waste (e-waste)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Community Recycling Centre HomeCycle collects e-waste including mobile phones, computers, ear/headphones, screens etc.	Advice and suggestions: Including computers, laptops, TVs, speakers, mouse, keyboard, telephones, headphones, earphones and other accessories Donate to The Reconnect Project For mobile phone recycling visit MobileMuster Officeworks provides e-waste recycling E-waste recycling is funded by the industry and regulated by the Commonwealth government under the Product Stewardship Act 2011 to ensure the safe recycling of hazardous e-waste
Item: Engine oil	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions: Check business recycling website
Item: Envelopes	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin (no padded plastic)	Advice and suggestions: Includes envelopes with a plastic window face Padded paper envelopes (no plastic) go in the Yellow recycling bin Padded envelopes lined with bubble wrap can be reused or put in the Red garbage bin
Item: Eyewear/glasses/spectacles	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: For more options visit Recycling Near You Donate to your local optometrist
Item: F
Item: Fabric	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: See 'clothing and textiles' on this list Reverse Garbage Large amounts: The Sewing Basket by Achieve Australia
Item: Fencing	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - bulky household items / metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Contact The Bower
Item: Fibro (asbestos cement sheet)	Which bin or service?: EPA website: Facilities that accept household asbestos Visit the Recycling Near You webpage to find a disposal service.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Fire extinguishers	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions: Check Fire NSW for more information
Item: Fireplace	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service - bulky household items / metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage Post on Gumtree, Facebook, Freecycle Visit the Business Recycling Website
Item: Flare (marine)	Which bin or service?: Regular collection through Roads and Maritime Services. Check RMS website for dates.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Foam (i.e. expanded polystyrene or EPS)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Try to avoid it in the first place. If it comes as packaging, ask the retailer to recycle it for you. Drop-off facilities are rare in the local area. Visit the Recycling Near You website
Item: Food scraps Includes: Meat, chicken, seafood (except oyster shells) and small bones (cooked and uncooked meats) Dairy products (cheese, yoghurt etc.) Bread, pasta, rice, cereal Coffee grounds Eggs and eggshells Out of date food (processed or fresh) Expired takeaway	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm	Advice and suggestions: Remove packaging first. Only use Council-provided or AS4736 compostable liners (look for the seedling logo). Green and burgundy bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: Food cans/tins	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Aluminium, steel and tin Lightly wash your cans and tins before putting in the recycling bin
Item: Fridges	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle
Item: Fuels	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Includes petrol, firestarters, methylated spirits
Item: Fur	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Try to avoid in the first place. The resale of second-hand or vintage fur products can contribute to consumer demand for fur products by perpetuating the idea ‘fur as fashion’ Donate to wildlife rescue group or to charity/op shop
Item: Furniture	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - bulky household items	Advice and suggestions: Freecycle Donate to charity/op shop IKEA furniture buy-back service
Item: G
Item: Garage door – metal, damaged	Which bin or service?: Visit the Recycling Near You website for scrap metal dealers Commercial waste facility	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Garden organics – grass clippings, leaves, twigs and small branches, flowers and prunings	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm	Advice and suggestions: Don't overfill your green FOGO bin - for excess branches, use the Council clean-up service. Green lid and burgundy lid bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: Garden tools and equipment (unpowered)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Usable items can be donated to the Inner West Tool Library, posted on Freecycle, or donated to charity.
Item: Garden tools and equipment (powered)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Inner West Tool Library or posted on Freecycle
Item: Gas bottles/cylinders	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Glass bottles	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Return and Earn recycling station. Some restrictions apply, see website for details.
Item: Glass jars	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Metal lid can stay screwed on jar Consider reusing as a food storage container Reverse Garbage Donate to a local food co-op
Item: Glossy paper, card, magazine	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Do the tearing test. If you can tear it, you can recycle it.
Item: Grass clippings	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm (only place dried grass clippings in worm farms)	Advice and suggestions: Keep some grass clippings aside to layer the FOGO bin with. Covering food scraps with garden organics will assist in minimising odours and pests. Green lid and burgundy lid bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: H
Item: Hair foils (with hair dye)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Hard plastic (e.g. bike helmet, toys, plastic buckets, washing tubs, etc.)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Hard plastic breaks into shards and is not recyclable
Item: Heater	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service - metals and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: If still working donate to charity, or post on Gumtree, Facebook, Freecycle Gas: Council clean-up service - metals and whitegoods Electric: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Council clean-up service - metals and whitegoods Oil: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off
Item: Hose	Which bin or service?: Red bin Council clean up service - bulky household items	Advice and suggestions: Small amount of hose, or chop the hose into smaller pieces: red garbage bin Large amount of hose/hose reel: Council clean up service - bulky household items Try reusing your old hose creatively
Item: Household appliances (metal) e.g. toaster	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Donate to The Bower or post on Freecycle
Item: Household cleaners and solvents	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: I
Item: Ice cream container	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Incandescent lightbulbs	Which bin or service?: Red bin – wrap in newspaper first	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Insulation	Which bin or service?: Contact a commercial waste facility Visit the Business Recycling website	Advice and suggestions:
Item: J
Item: K
Item: Kitty litter or pet poo	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Kitty litter or pet poo is not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more.
Item: Knitting and haberdashery	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: The Sewing Basket run by Achieve Australia or your local op shop
Item: L
Item: Laptops	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity
Item: Lawn clippings	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm (only place dried grass clippings in worm farms)	Advice and suggestions: Keep some lawn clippings aside to layer the FOGO bin with. Covering food scraps with garden organics will assist in minimising odours and pests. Green lid and burgundy lid bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: Lawn mowers	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Remove any remaining fuel from the lawn mower
Item: Leaves (dried or fresh)	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm	Advice and suggestions: Use to layer the FOGO bin with. Covering food scraps with garden organics will assist in minimising odours and pests. Green lid and burgundy lid bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: Lever arch folders	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Lids of take-away cups (plastic)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Simply cups
Item: Light globes/bulbs – incandescent	Which bin or service?: Red bin – wrap in newspaper first.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Light bulbs/tubes – fluorescent	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Community Recycling Centre Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: M
Item: Magazines	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity
Item: Mailing satchels (Australia Post plastic satchel)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some major supermarkets have recommenced soft plastics collection through a trial. Find participating supermarkets in NSW HomeCycle collects soft plastics via a pickup service
Item: Mattresses	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service - Mattress collection	Advice and suggestions: All of the mattresses collected through the free Council clean-up service are recycled using either Soft Landing or Mattress Recycler.
Item: Meat trays (all colours, all types)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Bring a reusable container to your local butcher
Item: Meat trays - Absorbent pad	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Medicines	Which bin or service?: Take to your nearest chemist/pharmacy Return of Expired Medicines (RUM) program Recycle medicinal blister packs with the Pharmacycle program.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Mercury	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Contact Toxfree on 1300 869 373
Item: Metals (toolboxes and similar)	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service - metals and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity/op shop Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle
Item: Metal frames (e.g. bed)	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service - metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity/op shop Post on Facebook, Gumtree, Freecycle
Item: Metal Lid (from glass jar)	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Keep lid screwed on container if possible
Item: Metal poles or rods	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service - metals and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Commercial waste facility
Item: Microwave oven (not in working order)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Microwave oven, in working order	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service Donate to charity, Freecycle	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Microwave dish/container (composite plastics)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Milk crates	Which bin or service?: Call Dairy Farmers on 1800 000 570	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Mirrors (broken)	Which bin or service?: Red bin (wrap it first)	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Mirrors (not broken)	Which bin or service?: Freecycle, local op shop, ebay, gumtree	Advice and suggestions: Council clean up service
Item: Mobile phones and batteries	Which bin or service?: Community Recycling Centre Household chemical and e-waste drop-off HomeCycle collects mobile phones	Advice and suggestions: Visit the MobileMuster website Donate to The Reconnect Project Officeworks provides mobile phone recycling Refer to the Recycling Near You website for more options
Item: Mops	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Motor oil	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions:
Item: N
Item: Nappies (disposable and compostable)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Needles and syringes	Which bin or service?: Place them in a sharps container or a puncture resistant container (not glass) and dispose of them at a Community Sharps Collection participating pharmacy. Or search for your suburb on the Safe Sharps website	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Newspaper	Which bin or service?: Home compost bin Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to animal shelter like Sydney Dogs and Cats home Newspaper is not accepted in the FOGO bin
Item: O
Item: Oil (cooking)	Which bin or service?: Small amounts: Red bin. Pour into a container of absorbent material (e.g. shredded toilet rolls, paper, tissues, egg cartons etc) to keep the bin clean. Alternatively, tip a small amount into a compost bin or soil. Large amounts: Store in container and drop it off at the Community Recycling Centre or the next Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Oil (engine)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions:
Item: P
Item: Packaging (foam)	Which bin or service?: Avoid it in the first place. If it comes as packaging, ask the retailer to recycle it for you. Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Packaging (corn starch stuffing)	Which bin or service?: Home compost bin Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Compostable packaging is not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more.
Item: Packaging (soft): foil-lined	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Paint tins - full	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions: Advertise on a local buy/sell/swap forum e.g. Facebook Marketplace or ‘Street Bounty’
Item: Paint and solvents - half empty	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Paint tins – empty or dried-out	Which bin or service?: Council clean up or Community Recycling Centre Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Paper and cardboard	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Did you know: Shredded paper cannot be recycled but can be used as animal bedding or placed in your compost or worm farm
Item: Paper (grease-proof)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Paper towels and tissues	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Did you know: Paper towels and tissues cannot be recycled for hygiene reasons.
Item: Pens and pencils	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity
Item: Pet food cans	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Pillows and cushions (beyond reuse) natural fibre fill	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Add natural fibre fill to home compost bin
Item: Pillows and cushions (beyond reuse) synthetic fill	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Discard cover, pull out fill and reuse
Item: Pipes (plastic)	Which bin or service?: Check the Recycling Near You website or the Pipa website	Advice and suggestions: Commercial waste facility
Item: Pizza boxes (with no leftover food)	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plant pots (plastic)	Which bin or service?: Red bin Council clean-up service - bulky household items	Advice and suggestions: Plastic plant pots can be taken to Bunnings to be recycled into new pots
Item: Plant pots (terracotta/ceramic)	Which bin or service?: The Bower, Reverse Garbage, Freecycle	Advice and suggestions: Small indoor pots/flower pots: Marrickville Community Nursery, see Pinterest for inspiration on the creative reuse of plant pots Large amounts of terracotta or ceramics is considered building material and may be required to be taken to a commercial waste facility - check Business Recycling Website
Item: Plasterboard	Which bin or service?: The Bower, Reverse Garbage, Freecycle	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic shopping bags	Which bin or service?: Avoid if possible Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some major supermarkets have recommenced soft plastics collection through a trial. Find participating supermarkets in NSW HomeCycle collects soft plastics via a pickup service
Item: Plastic bottles	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Recycling tip: Keep lids on and bottles empty - no liquids or smaller plastic pieces inside. Drink containers can be recycled at a Return and Earn recycling station. Some restrictions apply, see website for details.
Item: Plastic cards (e.g. loyalty cards etc.) and thin plastic objects	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic cups	Which bin or service?: Clear - Yellow bin White - Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic food containers (single use)	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic food trays (biscuits)	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic food trays (meat)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Bring reusable container to your local butcher
Item: Plastic-lined food wrapping	Which bin or service?: Avoid if possible Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic netting (e.g. fruit netting)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic storage containers (e.g. Tupperware containers)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity
Item: Plastic takeaway containers (no leftover food)	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Plastic toys	Which bin or service?: Red bin HomeCycle collects plastic toys that are in a usable condition	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity, Freecycle Bubcycle (usable toys only)
Item: Plastic wraps, films and ziplock bags	Which bin or service?: Avoid if possible Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some major supermarkets have recommenced soft plastics collection through a trial. Find participating supermarkets in NSW HomeCycle collects soft plastics via a pickup service
Item: Plasticised foil wrap (e.g. tea bag wrapping)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Pottery/porcelain	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity
Item: Pots and pans (aluminium or steel)	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity, Freecycle
Item: Poisons, pesticides and herbicides	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Polystyrene (also known as foam)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Check the Recycling Near You website Try to avoid it in the first place. If it comes as packaging, ask the retailer to recycle it for you.
Item: Pringles containers (composite materials)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Printer cartridges	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off HomeCycle collects printer cartridges	Advice and suggestions: Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi stores, Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, The Good Guys, Office National and Office Products Depot outlets.
Item: Pyrex (ovenware)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity, Freecycle
Item: R
Item: Rainwater tank	Which bin or service?: Check if the measurements are eligible for the Council clean-up service (2 metres x 1 metre x 1 metre) For metal or stainless steel: Council clean-up - Metal and whitegoods For plastic: Council clean-up - bulky household items and furniture	Advice and suggestions: Check the Reycling Near You website
Item: Radios	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop off	Advice and suggestions: The Bower, Freecycle, Gumtree
Item: Razors	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Gillette has partnered with Terracycle to create a razor and blades recycling program - Click here for more information
Item: Real grass dog toilet	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Real (or synthetic) grass dog toilets are not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more.
Item: Records (vinyl)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Donate to local radio station, a second hand shop or post on Freecycle
Item: Refrigerators	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service - Metal and whitegoods	Advice and suggestions: Freecycle
Item: Reusable shopping bags	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some major supermarkets have recommenced soft plastics collection through a trial. Find participating supermarkets in NSW HomeCycle collects soft plastics via a pickup service
Item: Rugs, carpets, underlay	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions: Contact The Bower, Reverse Garbage or a commercial waste facility for disposal. Visit the Business Recycling Website for more ideas.
Item: S
Item: Sand	Which bin or service?: Visit the Business Recycling website	Advice and suggestions: Commercial waste facility
Item: Scrap metals	Which bin or service?: Check the Recycling Near You website for metal recyclers.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Sharps/syringes	Which bin or service?: Place them in a sharps container or a puncture resistant container (not glass) and dispose of them at a Community Sharps Collection participating pharmacy. Or search for your suburb on the Safe Sharps website.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Shopping trolleys	Which bin or service?: Coles, Kmart, Target, Bunnings, Officeworks, Bi Lo:Report online Woolworths, Dan Murphy, Big W, Target, IGA: Report online Aldi: Phone 132 534.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Sinks, e.g. kitchen or laundry	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions: Reverse Garbage
Item: Shoes	Which bin or service?: Red bin HomeCycle collect wearable and unwearable shoes and sneakers	Advice and suggestions: TreadLightly recycle sport and active lifestyle footwear. Donate to charity
Item: Smoke alarms/detectors	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off or Community Recycling Centre	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Soft plastic packaging	Which bin or service?: Avoid if possible Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Some major supermarkets have recommenced soft plastics collection through a trial. Find participating supermarkets in NSW HomeCycle collects soft plastics via a pickup service
Item: Soil and rocks	Which bin or service?: Commercial waste facility	Advice and suggestions: Soil is not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin due to risk of heavy metal contamination.
Item: Spectacles	Which bin or service?: Check the Recycling Near You website	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Spice container (metal with plastic lid)	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin (metal container) and red bin (lid)	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Steel cans	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Stoves	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions: Freecycle
Item: Straws (plastic)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Styrofoam (otherwise known as ‘foam’) or expanded polystyrene – EPS)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Try to avoid it in the first place. If it comes as packaging, ask the retailer to recycle it for you. Check the Recycling Near You website
Item: T
Item: Take away food containers	Which bin or service?: Plastic - Yellow bin Fibre-based compostable - Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Lightly rinse the container, make sure no food scraps are left. A little bit of grease is OK
Item: Tapes (VHS and cassette)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Tea bags	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm	Advice and suggestions: Paper tea bags can be placed in the burgundy lid or green lid bins. Synthetic tea bags (containing plastics) cannot be placed in the burgundy lid or green lid bins. To find out if yours are okay, try tearing the tea bag open after use. If it tears open easily, it can go in the burgundy lid or green lid bins. If there is some resistance, it is likely synthetic and should therefore go in the red bin. Green lid and burgundy lid bins will now be emptied into the same truck.
Item: Telephones (not mobile)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Televisions	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Thermometers (mercury and digital)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Visit the Business Recycling website
Item: Tiles	Which bin or service?: Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage (non-broken tiles only) or post on Freecycle, Gumtree or other online swap and sell platforms.	Advice and suggestions: Commercial waste facility
Item: Timber (good condition)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions: Wastewood Among The Trees Freecycle Visit the Business Recycling Website
Item: Timber (unusable, poor condition)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Timber - furniture (good condition)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions: Donate to charity The Bower Freecycle
Item: Timber - furniture (unusable, poor condition)	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Tissues and napkins	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Tissues and napkins are not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more.
Item: Toner cartridges	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Officeworks and JB Hi-Fi stores, Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith, The Good Guys, Office National and Office Products Depot outlets. Inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and toner bottles from most brands are accepted. This includes cartridges used in printers, photocopiers and fax machines.
Item: Toaster	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Tools (metal)	Which bin or service?: Council clean-up service	Advice and suggestions: Usable tools can be donated to the Inner West Tool Library, charity or posted on Freecycle
Item: Tools (powered)	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions: Usable power tools can be donated to the Inner West Tool Library or The Bower E-Tool Library
Item: Toothbrushes	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Reuse it as a grout scrubber. Terracycle collection (check website for locations)
Item: Toothpaste tubes and caps	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Terracycle collection (check website for locations)
Item: Trolleys	Which bin or service?: Coles, Kmart, Target, Bunnings, Officeworks, Bi Lo: Report online Woolworths, Dan Murphy, Big W, Target, IGA: Report online Aldi: Phone 132 534.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Tyres	Which bin or service?: Check the Recycling Near You website for options	Advice and suggestions: Commercial waste facility
Item: V
Item: Vacuum cleaner dust	Which bin or service?: Red bin Home compost bin	Advice and suggestions: Vacuum cleaner dust is not allowed in the green (FOGO) bin. Find out more.
Item: Vacuum cleaner	Which bin or service?: Household chemicals and e-waste drop off Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Vapes	Which bin or service?: Reusable vaping products (including cartridges, replacement pods and nicotine) are now accepted under the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) program. Ask your local pharmacy for more information. Reusable vape batteries can be dropped off at a Community Recycling Centre or B-cycle Single use vapes are not accepted at any of the above. The EPA and RUM program hope to provide safe alternatives soon.	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Vegetable scraps	Which bin or service?: Green bin (FOGO) Burgundy bin (in eligible apartment blocks) Compost bin or worm farm	Advice and suggestions: Remove packaging first. Only use Council-provided or AS4736 compostable liners (look for the seedling logo).
Item: Video tapes	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off Red bin	Advice and suggestions: Visit the Business Recycling website for drop-off locations
Item: W
Item: Washing machine	Which bin or service?: Council clean up service	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Waxed cardboard (e.g. fruit box)	Which bin or service?: Red bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Wheelchair	Which bin or service?: TAD Australia eBility	Advice and suggestions:
Item: White goods excluding freezers, fridges, air conditioners	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Windows (frame and glass panes)	Which bin or service?: Contact The Bower or Reverse Garbage	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Wood shavings – untreated	Which bin or service?: Contact your local community garden	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Wood shavings – treated	Which bin or service?: Commercial waste facility	Advice and suggestions:
Item: Wrapping paper	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions:
Item: X
Item: X-ray films	Which bin or service?: Household chemical and e-waste drop-off HomeCycle collects X-rays (remove personal information first)	Advice and suggestions: Check with your radiologist as many medical imaging businesses collect X-rays. Search on Recycling Near You for other options in your area.
Item: Y
Item: Yoghurt containers	Which bin or service?: Yellow bin	Advice and suggestions: Rinse lightly before recycling

A-Z: What goes where?

Council bins

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