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A to Z waste and recycling guide

About

Landfill is the last place you want to send waste.

  • Many waste items can be recycled and made into new products, saving valuable resources, energy and landfill space.
  • This guide lists a range of common household and garden items, and how you can recycle or safely dispose of them.
  • Conditions and fees may apply. Always contact businesses directly to check if items are accepted before you drop anything off.

Item not listed here?

Use the free online phone app Recycle Mate where you can photograph or search for an item and immediately find out where it can be recycled, refurbished or safely disposed of, based on your location. 

You can also find out where you can take other items at Planet Ark's Recycling Near You website or the Sustainability Victoria website

 

 

Request to be added to this guide

Does your business or community group offer a recycling service to Cardinia Shire residents? If so, thank you! Please contact our Waste and Resource Recovery team at mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au or 1300 787 624 to be added to this guide.

A

Acids

Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit Sustainability Victoria for collection dates and locations.

Aerosols

Empty aerosol cans: Kerbside recycling bin

Full or half full aerosol cans: Detox Your Home collection (visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations)

Agriculture chemicals

Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit Sustainability Victoria for collection dates and locations.

ChemClear 
Visit ChemClear website to register chemicals for disposal.

Aluminium cans

Kerbside recycling bin

Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.

Aluminium foil/trays

Kerbside recycling bin
Note: Scrunch foil into golf ball size.

Animal (deceased - small)

Wrap in plastic bag and put in rubbish bin. 

Animal (deceased - large)

 See local transfer stations

Asbestos

 Visit Asbestos Victoria or the Environmental Protection Authority website for disposal locations and instructions.

B

Bags (plastic)

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Bags (handbags and suitcases)

 See 'Clothing/textiles'

Baking paper

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Balloons

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Batteries - car 

Batteries - household 

For more locations go to the Eco Batt website

Berry punnets

Kerbside recycling bin

Biscuit trays

Kerbside recycling bin

Bikes

Brainwave Bikes accept bikes in good condition for donation

Hard waste collection
Blister packs
(medication)

Pharmacycle accept blister packs for recycling at participating pharmacies.

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Books

If in good condition, consider donating books at participating Officeworks stores or giving them away via BookMooch

Kerbside recycling bin
Remove any plastic or laminated covers first.

Bottles (plastic, glass)

Kerbside recycling bin

Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.

Bricks and masonry

See local transfer stations

Bubble wrap

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Building and renovation materials

 See local transfer stations

C

Cans (Steel, aluminium)

Kerbside recycling bin

Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.

Car parts

 
  • Small car parts, except those listed below may be accepted in your hard waste collection.
  • Car springs, engines, gearboxes, differentials and other large car parts may be accepted at transfer stations for a fee. See local transfer stations.

Cardboard

 

Kerbside recycling bin

Some transfer stations also accept cardboard for free.

Waxed cardboard goes in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Cartons
(Long-life/Tetra-pak)

 Rubbish (landfill) bin

Cartons
(Refrigerated)

 Rubbish (landfill) bin

Carpet

Hard waste collection
Book up to 2 free collections per year.

*Carpet should be rolled, taped and less than 1.5m in length.

Chemicals
(Household chemicals, liquids and hazardous waste)

 Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.

Cigarette Lighter (empty)

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Clothing or Textiles

Sell or donate if in good condition.

If damaged, recycle at clothing retailers H&M and Zara – they both accept clothing in any condition for textile recycling.

Some op shops will accept damaged clothing for rags, but always ask first. Local mechanics and painters may be able to use them for rags, too.

You can also contact Upparel to book for a collection (for a fee)

Check Recycling Near You for additional recycling options and drop-off points.


Clothes hangers

Sell or donate if in good condition.

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Coffee pods

Computers and computer parts

D

DrumMuster drums

Drum Muster is held twice a year at the Council depot, 18 Purton Road, Pakenham. Visit Drum Muster for dates and additional locations.

Dishwasher/ Dryer 

See ‘Whitegoods’ section

Doors (internal)

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Drain cleaner

Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.

E

E-waste (Electronic waste: any item with a plug, battery or cord at the end of its useful life)

 Visit the e-waste page

Electrical cords / charging cables

 Free e-waste collection boxes

F

Fertiliser

Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.

Fire extinguishers

Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.

Fluorescent lightglobes

 See 'Lightglobes'

Foam underlay

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Materials accepted for fee. See transfer stations

Food pouches (yoghurt or baby food)

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Food waste

Compost bin or worm farm
Rebates are available to residents. Check waste rebates and discounts for details.

Kerbside green waste bin

Fuel
Detox Your Home collection
Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.
 

Furniture

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

G

Garden/green waste

Kerbside green waste bin

 

Compost bin or worm farm
Rebates are available to residents. Check waste rebates and discounts for details.

 

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

 

Green waste drop-off days

Gas bottles and cylinders 

Exchange programs include Elgas’ SWAP’n’GO and Kleenheat’s Kwik-Gas.

Local transfer stations.

Glass bottles and jars

Kerbside recycling bin

Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.

Glass (drinking)

Sell or donate if in good condition.

If broken wrap and place in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Glasses (spectacles/sunglasses)

Check if your eye clinic will take old glasses back for recycling.

Hewitt Eco-House, Koo Wee Rup Hospital also accept old glasses for recycling.

Glass windows, cups, mirrors, table tops

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Note: Glass and mirrors must be securely wrapped and labelled.

Gloves (disposable and damaged reusables)

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Green reusable bags

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

H

Hair

 Animal and human hair can go in your kerbside green waste bin

Hot water units

Hard waste collection
Book up to 2 free collections per year.

Hose (garden hose)

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

I

Ink cartridges

See ‘Printer cartridges’

J

Jars (glass or plastic) 

Kerbside recycling bin

L

Laptops

Light globes

Drop off point for regular light globes, fluorescent tubes and CFL globes: 

Drop-off points for regular and CFL globes only (no tubes): 

Small quantities of incandescent globes and halogens can be wrapped in newspaper and placed in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

M

Magazines and catalogues

 Kerbside recycling bin

Mask (disposable)

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Mattresses

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Some transfer stations may accept mattresses for a fee.

Meat trays
  • Foam (polystyrene) - Rubbish (landfill) bin
  • Black plastic - Rubbish (landfill) bin
  • Clear or white plastic - Recycling bin (remove the absorption pad and soft plastic wrapper and place in the rubbish (landfill) bin).

Medicines (old)

Dispose of old pharmaceuticals safely by returning them to your local pharmacy/chemist.

Mirrors

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Note: Glass and mirrors must be securely wrapped and labelled.

Mobile phones

If your smartphone still works:

Mobile phones can also be taken to:

N

Needles

See ‘Syringes’

O

Ovens / stoves

See ‘Whitegoods’

Oil (motor)

  
Drop off at Future Recycling Pakenham or your local transfer station for a fee. See transfer stations

Supercheap Auto accept oil for recycling. Contact store for more information.
 

Oil (cooking oil and fat)

 Small amounts absorbed in paper towel or newspaper can go in your Kerbside green waste bin

P

Paint

Future Recycling Transfer Station in Pakenham accepts selected paint products as part of the Paintback program
Note: Aerosol paints are not accepted. 
Paint aerosols (full or partially empty) Take to a Detox Your Home Collection. For collection dates and locations visit the Sustainability Victoria website

Paint tins (empty)

Hard waste collection
Book up to 2 free collections per year

Note: Lids must be removed.

Paint tins (with liquid or dry paint)

 The Future Recycling Transfer Station in Pakenham accepts selected paint products as part of the Paintback program.

Paper

Kerbside recycling bin

Shredded paper can't be recycled as the pieces are too small to collect. Put in your compost bin or kerbside green waste bin.

Waxed paper goes in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Paper towel

Kerbside green waste bin 

or your compost bin if you have one. 

Pet food packaging

Tins (empty and clean) Kerbside recycling bin

Petrol

 See 'Fuel'

Pens

 Used pens, markers and highlighters can be dropped off at participating Officeworks stores

Photographs

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Pill / blister packets

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Pizza boxes

Clean boxes or lids can go in your kerbside recycling bin

Oily bases should go into your compost bin or your kerbside green waste bin

Plant pots

Return to your garden centre.

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Plasterboard

Local transfer stations

Plastic bottles (hard)

Kerbside recycling bin

Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.

Plastic containers (hard)

 Kerbside recycling bin

Plastic (soft)

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Plastic cutlery (single-use)

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Polystyrene

Visit the Recycling Near You webpage for recycling locations.

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Pots and pans (kitchen)

Sell or donate if in good condition. 

Recycle for free at Future Recycling Pakenham, or your local transfer station.

Otherwise put in your weekly kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Printer ink and toner cartridges

Cartridges 4 Planet Ark collection boxes, located at:

S

Scrap metal

Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Shoes

Sports shoes can be recycled through the Save Our Soles Initiative. Collection points include SportsPower Pakenham and Rebel Sport. Visit the Save Our Soles website for more locations. 

Work boots  Totally Workwear     

Silage wrap

Drouin Waste Recyclers
Dairy Australia Recycling initiative

Smoke alarms

Cardinia Shire free e-waste collection boxes

Soft plastics

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin (as the REDcycle program is now paused and not taking soft plastics) 

Soil/ dirt

 Future Recycling Pakenham - Clean-fill only, fees apply
Suez Hampton Park - Clean-fill only, fees apply

Solar panels

 Hard waste collection (maximum of 6 panels)
Book up to two free collections per year.

Sporting goods

 Sell or donate if in good condition.
Hard waste collection
Book up to two free collections per year.

Steel cans

Kerbside recycling bin

Syringes

Syringe disposal exchange service
Please report any needles you find to customer service on 1300 787 624

T

Tablets, notebooks and palmtops 

Takeaway food containers 
  • Foam (polystyrene) - Rubbish (landfill) bin
  • Black plastic - Rubbish (landfill) bin
  • Clear or white plastic - Kerbside recycling bin
  • Cardboard -  see 'Pizza box'

Televisions/ (TVs) 

Timber

Tissues

Kerbside green waste bin or your home compost system

Otherwise kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes

Emerald Community House (356-358 Belgrave-Gembrook Road) have a drop off station. Visit TerraCycle for more locations.

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Toys
(soft / plush or plastic)

Sell or donate if in good condition.
Join a local Toy Library.
Drop off pre-loved toys to participating Big W stores for recycling

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin. Remove any batteries first - see E-waste.

Tyres

V

Vapes (e-cigarettes)

Remove the battery from the vape, and take the battery to an e-waste drop-off point. Place the rest of the vape cartridge and components into a bag and dispose of in the rubbish bin.

VHS Tapes

Drop-off at free e-waste collection boxes

W

Weeds

 Kerbside green waste bin

Wet wipes

 Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Whitegoods (washing machine, dryers, dishwasher, fridge, freezer)

Hard waste collection

Book up to two free collections per year.

Tip: When purchasing new whitegoods, ask the retailer if they offer recycling services for items you’re replacing.

X

X-rays

Emerald Library

Pakenham Library

Koo Wee Rup Hospital reception  

Council’s Customer Service Centre, Officer

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