A-Z of Recycling

Here are some suggestions on how you can responsibly recycle or dispose of things around your home. Please note that only household quantities are accepted.

For more information contact the Waste Education Officer on 9777 1000.

A

Aerosol Cans

 Aerosol cans can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Aluminium Cans

These go in the Weekly Recycling Service.


Appliances (electrical)

Many electrical appliances can be fixed - look under 'electrical appliances' in the Yellow Pages. Otherwise, broken appliances can be disposed of through the E-Waste event.


Asbestos

Asbestos must be removed by a registered contractor. Look under 'Asbestos Removal' in the Yellow Pages.

Local Council Fact Sheet on Asbestos


B

Batteries (car)

These can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre at Lanceley Place. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Batteries (dry cell)

Dry cell batteries can be recycled free of charge at Council’s Customer Service Centre.

Batteries can also be taken to Dick Smith in Westfield or Chatswood Chase for recycling.


Batteries (phone)

Phone batteries can be recycled for free at Council's Customer Service Centre and most mobile phone stores.


Bikes

If the bicycle is in working order, consider donating it to charity or selling it. Otherwise, bicycles can be collected in the Metal Recycling Service.


Books

 Consider donating books to charity, giving them to a local school, trading in at a second hand book shop, or giving them away. Otherwise books can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Building Waste

 Look under 'building waste' in the Yellow Pages for disposal.

C

Cans

Cans can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service. They can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre at Lanceley Place. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Car

 Sell your car through the Internet or the Trading Post, trade it in if buying a new car, or consider donating it. If your car is not in working order, contact a wrecker.

Car Bodies

Accepted at SITA Chullora, Eastern Creek, Jacks Gully and Lucas Heights. Check the SITA website for more information.


Cardboard

Cardboard can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Large quantities of cardboard can be flattened and taken to a Visy Drop Off Location. Phone 1300 368 479.

Cardboard can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Carpet

 Carpet can be disposed of through the General Clean Up Service.

Chemicals

Take your waste to one of the Household Chemical CleanOut drop-off events which will be advertised on the Chemical CleanOut page. Further information including event dates is available at www.cleanout.com.au or on 131 555.


Christmas Cards

These can go in the Weekly Recycling Service.


Clothing

 Donate used clothing to a charity, give it to family or friends, to reuse as old rags.

Compact Fluorescent Lights

Compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) contain a small amount of mercury (about 5 milligrams) sealed within the glass tubing. CFL’s should not be discarded into landfill as the mercury can leak into the environment. The correct way to dispose of CFL’s is by recycling them – they can be recycled for free at Council’s Customer Service Centre or through a Chemical Cleanout event (organised by the Office of Environment and Heritage).

Broken CFLs: These should be sealed in a plastic bag and placed into the garbage bin. They will not be accepted at Council.


Computers

 Trade in your old computer if you are buying a new one, give it to family or friends, sell it through the newspaper/internet or donate it to a charity. Council also runs two E-Waste events each year where you can drop off your old computer to be recycled.

E

Egg Cartons

 Egg cartons can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Envelopes (with and without plastic windows)

 Recycle envelopes through the Weekly Recycling Service.

E-Waste (Electronic Waste)

Recycle your old E-Waste at our next E-Waste drop-off event.


F

Food Waste

The best way to dispose of food waste is to put it into a compost bin or worm farm. Otherwise food waste is collected in the Weekly Garbage Collection.

Food Waste Disposers (also known as insinkerators) are available for disposal of food waste but these are not recommended by Sydney Water.


G

Garden Waste/Clippings

Garden waste and clippings are collected in the Weekly Vegetation Collection and in the Bulk Vegetation Recyling Service.

Vegetation can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Gas Bottles/Cylinders

Gas bottles and cylinders can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


General Household Waste

 General household waste (excluding chemicals, metals, vegetation and hazardous materials) can be disposed of through the General Clean Up Service.

Glass Bottles and Jars

Glass can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Separated green, brown and clear glass can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


H

Household Cleaners

Household cleaners and chemicals can be disposed of at a Household Chemical CleanOut. Contact the Office of Environment and Heritage for more information or phone 131 555.


J

Juice Cartons

 Juice cartons can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

M

Magazines

 Magazines can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Mattresses

Mattresses & ensemble bases can be recycled through Mattress Recyclers who will collect and recycle mattresses for approximately $30 per piece (depending on size and location). Collection can be booked online. Alternatively, mattresses can be dropped off at their warehouse (Unit 2, 368 Horsley Road, Milperra 2214) for $15 per piece.

Mattressess & ensemble bases are also accepted at all SITA  transfer stations & landfills. These are not recycled. There is a limit of one ensemble or 2 individual mattresses per visit and there is a charge of $50 per mattress or $100 per ensemble.

Mattresses can also be collected through the General Clean Up Service. These are not recycled.


Milk Containers

 Milk cartons and bottles can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Mirrors

Mirrors can be placed in the general garbage bin. They should not be placed into the recycling bin. Large mirrors can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116. 
 


Mobile Phones

Mobile phones can be recycled for free at Council's Customer Service Centre or through most mobile phone stores as part of the MobileMuster program.


N

Newspapers

Newspapers can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Larger quantities of newspaper can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


O

Office Paper

Waste paper can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Large quantities of office paper can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116. 


Oil (Sump)

Sump oil can be disposed of at a Household Chemical CleanOut. Contact the Office of Environment and Heritage or phone 131 555.


P

Paint/Paint Tins (household)

Paint and paint tins can be disposed of at a Household Chemical CleanOut. Contact the Office of Environment and Heritage for more information or phone 131 555.

They can also be disposed of at the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116. 
 


Pallets

Pallets can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Palm Trees/Palm Tree Fronds

Palm trees can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Paper

Waste paper can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

Large quantities of paper can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Phone Books

 Phone books can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service. You can cancel future phone book deliveries at Directory Select.

Pizza Boxes (clean)

 Pizza boxes which don't have any food residue can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service. Otherwise, dispose of pizza boxes with general garbage.

Plants

 Plants can be collected with the Weekly Vegetation Collection.

Plastic Bags

 Plastic bags cannot be recycled in the weekly garbage collection. However, most supermarkets will collect plastic bags for recycling.

Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

They can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Plastic Containers

All disposable plastic containers from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry can be recycled through the weekly recycling service. Please remove lids and place lids in the garbage.

Even though some plastic bags have the recycling symbol and a number they are not recyclable through the kerbside system so please do not put them into the recycling bin.


Plastics (Polystyrene and styrofoam)

 Polystyrene and styrofoam can't be recycled, so dispose of these in the Weekly Garbage Collection.

Pool Chemicals

Pool chemicals can be disposed of at a Household Chemical CleanOut. Contact the Office of Environment and Heritage for more information or phone 131 555.

 


Printer Cartridges

 Printer cartridges can be taken to Australia Post outlets to be recycled under the Planet Ark project.

S

Scrap Metals

Scrap metal can be collected through the Metal Recycling Service.

It can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Sharps/Needles

These can be disposed of at participating pharmacies. Contact the Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353 for clean up of discarded needles and sharps.


Solvents

Solvents, household cleaning products and chemicals can be disposed of at a Household Chemical CleanOut. Contact the Office of Environment and Heritage for more information or phone 131 555.

 


Spectacles

Recycle your pre-loved prescription eyewear and give the gift of sight to a person in need in a developing country. Further information and a list of participating opticians is available from OneSight.


Steel Food Cans

 Steel food cans can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service.

T

Televisions

The switch to digital TV commenced in some parts of NSW in December 2010 and will be rolled out across the rest of NSW over the next few years. However there is no need to buy a new digital TV - most old analog TVs are capable of receiving digital by plugging in a set-top box or digital recorder. Search the brand and model of your TV to see if it can accept digital at www.digitalready.gov.au. If you do buy a new TV, recycle your old one through the E-Waste drop-off event.


Timber (treated - painted, varnished, stained or chemically treated for pests)

Treated timber can be put out for collection in the General Clean Up Service (maximum of 0.5m3 cut into 1m lengths).

It can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre (fees apply). The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


Timber (untreated)

Untreated timber can be put out for collection in the Bulk Vegetation Recycling Service (maximum of 0.5m3 cut into 1m lengths).

It can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre (fees apply). The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


W

White Goods

White goods can be collected in the White Goods and Metals Clean Up.

White goods can also be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre. The SITA website has more information, or phone 1300 651 116.


X

X-rays

 Small quantities of X-rays can be posted to Siltech Pty Ltd for recycling (PO Box 463, Reservoir VIC 3073). Large numbers can be dropped off at their warehouse in Frenchs Forest (Unit 5-6, 15 Rodborough Road, Mon-Fri, 9am – 4pm). No fees apply.

Y

Yellow Pages

 Yellow Pages and other phone books can be recycled through the Weekly Recycling Service. You can cancel future phone book delivers at Directory Select.