A-Z of recycling

Pool chemicals can be disposed of at a Household Chemical CleanOut event.

Chemicals cannot not be put in any Council bin as they are a fire risk in the collection trucks. 

Chemicals may also be disposed of through a waste management facility, such as Veolia and Cleanaway. 

Soft plastics (for example - bread bags, frozen food bags, soft plastic wrapping, light plastic bags) cannot be recycled in your yellow bin, they must be placed in your red general waste bin. 

Alternatively, some soft plastics can be recycled through RecycleSmart by booking a pick-up from your doorstep. 

As of 9 November 2022, REDcycle who are Australia's largest soft plastic recycling program, have had to temporarily stop accepting soft plastics (bread bags, frozen food bags, soft plastic wrapping, light plastic bags, etc). This means that there are currently no collection points at major supermarkets. 

Asbestos cannot be placed in any Council bin and is not accepted for collection during Council's clean-up collections. 

Visit the EPA website to find facilities that accept household asbestos. 

Read more on our asbestos fact sheet.  

Yoga mats can be collected through Council's pre-booked or scheduled clean-up service or placed in your general waste bin.

LovEarth offers a program throughout Australia of redistribution of pre-loved mats to karma classes and projects.  

Treated timber can be put out for Clean-up collections (maximum of 0.5m3 cut into 1m lengths).

Pool tables are not accepted during Council's clean-up collection due to their size and weight. 

Consider selling your pool table online, giving your pool table away through FreeCycle or engaging with a private removal service to get it collected for disposal.  

Textiles should go in your red general waste bin.

Avoid landfill and explore the many ways to recycle your textiles.  

Good-quality used clothes can be donated to charitable organisations that can resell or redistribute them.

The Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre accepts wearable textiles, including good quality clothing, shoes, manchester, and accessories such as handbags, belts, scarves and hats (up to 20kg per drop off). Trial phase until April 2024.

H&M and ZARA accept garments or textiles for recycling. Visit the H&M website and ZARA website for further information. 

Loop Upcycling works with companies to develop unique and innovative programs to deal with old work uniforms. 

The Uniform Exchange has provided a second life for thousands of school uniforms. The website provides the community with a free platform to sell, buy or donate second-hand school uniforms for every school in Australia. 

Fashion retailers or wholesalers can donate brand-new clothing to Thread Together. 

Pen and marker recycling stations are available at selected Officeworks stores - Find an Officeworks store with drop a off point. 

Cardboard should be placed in your yellow recycling bin. 

Large quantities can be dropped off at the Artarmon Resource Recovery (Cleanaway).

E-waste cannot be placed in any Council bin and is not accepted for collection during Council's clean-up collections.

E-waste may contain hazardous materials which can be harmful to the environment if not properly disposed of. 

Consider trading in your old computer if you are buying a new one, give it to family or friends or sell it through the internet.

Officeworks has an e-waste recycling program, find a drop off location. 

Recycle your old computer by taking it to the Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre. 

You can also drop them off to The Reconnect Project (accept old or damaged laptops, tablets or phones) who repair them for people in need.*

*These items are reused rather than recycled so please ensure personal data is erased from your device.