COVID-19 restrictions ease for metropolitan Melbourne from 11.59pm Thursday 24 June

Click here for information, updates to Council services and support for residents and businesses >

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

  • Collected weekly
  • Bin lid colour: Dark green or red
  • Maximum allowed weight: 70 kilograms

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).alt=" "
  • Broken glass and ceramics
  • Foil-lined milk and juice cartons  - these can't be recycled.  Cartons that aren't lined with foil can be put in your recycling bin.
  • 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 

Recycling bins

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 - see note on lids below
  • Paper (not shredded)
  • Cardboard - including egg cartons and clean pizza boxes - but not cardboard with a wax coating or soiled with foodalt=" "
  • Cartons without a foil lining - such as milk and juice cartons.
  • 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.
  • Large plastic jar lids and metal  lids - put large lids (such as Vegemite or jam jar lids) loose in the recycling bin. Screw small plastic lids to the bottle or container before putting them in the recycling bin. Pop small metal lids in a can to be recycled. 
     

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 foil-lined milk and juice cartons
  • 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

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 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

Related pages