What you can put in your bins
Key points
This page tells you what you can and can’t put in your:
To find out how to dispose of other common items in your house, garage and backyard. visit our A to Z waste and recycling guide
Please make sure you’re only putting ‘allowed’ items in your bins. If your bin is contaminated (has the wrong items in it), we’ll put a sticker on it to let you know. In some cases we might not be able to collect it until the items are removed. More info: Using the right bin page
Rubbish (landfill) bin
What CAN go in your kerbside rubbish bin
- General household rubbish
- Soft 'scrunchable' plastics - These can go in your rubbish bin but if you can, put them in the RedCycle bins at Coles and Woolworths so they can be used to make new products.
- Black plastic items - such as meat trays and plant pots, as they can't be recycled. (Although you may want to contact local nurseries to see if they can re-use the plant pots).
- Broken glass and ceramics
- Nappies and sanitary products - But if you buy reusable nappies and hygiene products and live in Cardinia Shire, you can claim some cash back (a rebate).
- Polystyrene and foam - Or visit 'P' in the A to Z guide for more sustainable disposal options
- Kitty litter and pet poo - there are also compost systems specifically designed for animal waste. Do a web search for 'pet waste composting' to find out more
- Broken toys
- Cardboard with a wax coating - goes in your rubbish bin as it can't be recycled
- Clothing and shoes - Or visit 'C' and 'S' in the A to Z guide for ways to dispose of them that are more sustainable.
What CAN'T go in your kerbside rubbish bin
- NO items that can be recycled - See items you can recycle here.
- NO electrical items, e-waste (any item with a plug, battery or cord that's at the end of its life) - Visit the e-waste page for disposal options
- NO batteries - visit 'B' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO medicines and chemicals - visit Detox Your Home for disposal options
- NO paint - visit 'P' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO soil or rubble - visit 'S' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO syringes - visit 'S' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
Recycling bins
- Collected fortnightly. Check your collection week online
- Bin lid colour: Yellow
- Maximum allowed weight: 70 kilograms
- Contents processed at Polytrade Recycling
Important recycling info
- What you can put in your recycling bin has changed. This is because we can only accept materials that can be processed and recycled locally
- Do NOT put your items in bags before you put them in the recycling bin. Items must be placed loose in the bin
- Rinse food or liquids from containers before putting them in your recycling bin
- Squash bulky items
- Make sure the bin lid closes
More info: Recycling web page
What CAN go in your recycling bin
- Cans (aluminium and steel) - including aerosol cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper (not shredded)
- Cardboard - including egg cartons and clean pizza boxes - but not cardboard with a wax coating or soiled with food
- Aluminium foil and foil trays - Save up small pieces of foil then scrunch them into a ball about the size of a golf ball or bigger.
- Hard plastic bottles and containers - including plastic bottles (screw small lids to the bottle), containers, trays (including biscuit trays and sushi containers), Tupperware.
What CAN'T go in your recycling bin
- NO recyclable items in plastic shopping or garbage bags - all items must be put loose in your bin
- NO plastic bags and other soft 'scrunchable' plastics - such as chip, bread and pasta bags and chocolate bar wrappers. Put these in RedCycle bins at Coles and Woolworths so they can be used to make new products.
- NO clothing, textiles and shoes - visit 'S' and 'C' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO food or garden waste
Food: Compost it, put it in your food and garden waste bin, or put it in your rubbish bin as a last resort
Garden waste: Put it in your food and garden waste bin or use our free drop-off days
If you buy a compost bin, worm farm, mulcher, shredder or portable wood chipper and you live in Cardinia Shire, you can claim cash back (a rebate). - NO black plastic - including meat trays and plant pots. (You may want to contact local nurseries to see if they can re-use the plant pots).
- NO nappies and sanitary products - if you buy reusable nappies and hygiene products and live in Cardinia Shire, you can claim cash back (a rebate).
- NO building and renovation materials - Visit 'B' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO e-waste (any item with a plug, battery or cord at the end of its life) - Visit the e-waste page for disposal options
- NO mirrors and window glass - These can be put out for hard waste collection
- NO polystyrene and foam - visit 'P' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO scrap metal - including car parts. These can be put out for hard waste collection
Food and garden (green) waste bin
- This is an optional service. You can order a food and garden waste bin if you don't have one.
- Collected every 2 weeks. Check your collection week online
- Bin lid colour: Bright green (lime)
- Maximum allowed weight: 70 kilograms
- Contents processed at Cleanaway South East Organics Facility and turned into high-quality compost.
More info: Food and garden waste page
What CAN go in your food and garden waste bin
- All garden waste (including grass clippings, small prunings and cuttings, small branches, weeds, flowers)
- All food waste (including meat, dairy, seafood, eggs and eggshells, citrus, onion and garlic)
- Coffee filter paper and grounds
- Tea leaves (loose)
- Cooking oil and fats (absorbed in paper towel or newspaper)
- Nuts and seeds (including fruit stones such as mango and avocado)
- Shredded paper
- Food-stained cardboard and paper
What CAN’T go in
- NO general rubbish
- NO recyclables
- NO food packaging (including compostable/biodegradable)
- NO stickers or rubber bands
- NO nappies and hygiene products
- NO bags and plastic
- NO rubbish from the garden, including pots, hoses, ropes and fake turf
- NO building and demolition materials (such as bricks, sand, soil, concrete, rocks or asbestos) – visit 'B' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO hazardous waste or chemicals – visit Detox Your Home for disposal options
- NO large logs or stumps
- NO manure and animal waste - these should go in your rubbish (landfill) bin. There are also compost systems specifically designed for animal waste. Do a web search for 'pet waste composting' to find out more.
- NO oyster or mussel shells
- NO plant pots – you may want to contact local nurseries to see if they can re-use the plant pots.
- NO soil, stones, rocks or potting mix - visit 'S' in the A to Z guide for disposal options
- NO treated timber
Questions?
Contact our Waste team
Ph: 1300 787 624
Email: mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au