A-Z of recycling
Below are some suggestions on how you can responsibly recycle, rehome or dispose of household items. Check out our RecycleSmart pick-up program for ways to recycle a number of items that can't go into your yellow-lidded bin.
Planet Ark's Recycling Near You site provides a wealth of additional recycling information.
Could your item be used by someone else? Repair, sell, giveaway or donate your items to give them a new lease on life. Items can be fixed at the Repair Café or sold online on sites such as Gumtree, eBay or Facebook buy, swap and sell groups.
To reduce your waste in the first place, consider purchasing second-hand, borrowing or renting items instead of purchasing new ones. The Sydney Library of Things in Waverton is a great place to borrow items like camping gear, tools, garden equipment, appliances and more.
These are third party websites, not affiliated with Council, and should be carefully considered at your own risk.
For more information, contact our Environmental Educators.
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Empty aerosol cans from the kitchen, bathroom or laundry can be recycled through the weekly recycling service.
Cans containing butane and other accelerants should be taken to the Community Recycling Centre for disposal.
Aluminium cans can be recycled through the weekly recycling service.
Metal lids can be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin if they are put in a metal can with the opening squeezed closed.
Clean foil - with no food or oil residue - can be squashed into a ball and placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. The ball should be about the size of a tennis ball so that it isn't too light and doesn’t fly off machinery. This does not include foil with a plastic lining (i.e. chip packets).
Asbestos must be removed by a registered contractor. Look under 'Asbestos Removal' in the Yellow Pages.
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Single use and rechargeable batteries can be recycled for free through the B-cycle battery recycling scheme. Find your closest drop-off point through an extensive network that includes ALDI, Bunnings, Officeworks and more (with many more drop-off points due to be added over the coming months).
Batteries can also be taken to the Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre.
They are also accepted as part of our recycling doorstep pick-up service RecycleSmart, find out more here.
Batteries cannot not be put in household red-lidded garbage bins as they are a fire risk in the collection truck.
Phone batteries can be recycled for free at Council's Customer Service Centre, most mobile phone stores, Woolworths stores and selected OfficeWorks stores.
They can also be taken to the Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre.
They are also accepted as part of our recycling doorstep pick-up service RecycleSmart, find out more here.
Batteries cannot not be put in household red-lidded garbage bins as they are a fire risk in the collection truck.
Revolve Recycling collects unwanted bikes to divert them from landfill and rehome or recycle them. You can book a free contactless collection from your doorstep on their website here.
Alternatively, if the bicycle is in working order, consider donating it to charity or selling it.
As a last resort, bicycles can be sold to scrap metal merchants or placed out in a clean-up collection.
Items that are certified as ‘home compostable’ can be placed in a compost bin or worm farm. Otherwise, bioplastics and general compostable plastics should be put in the red-lidded garbage bin.
Consider donating books to charity, asking local schools if they're interested, trading in at a second hand book shop, or giving them away. You can also swap a small number of good condition books in a Street Library, see the map here.
Books in good condition are also accepted as part of our recycling doorstep pick-up service RecycleSmart, find out more here.
Otherwise, magazines and paperback books can be recycled through the weekly recycling service. Hardcover books and telephone directories can be placed in the weekly garbage service.