Waste Types
Waste types are the materials that you can place in your bin.
Read below to gain an understanding of those materials that can be accepted by the different waste and recycling bins available.
Important notice
Please note that acceptance criteria varies across States and Territories. Have a look at our Allowed and Prohibited lists below to get an understanding, however in order to receive information about the most recent regulation, please visit you local council website.
Unless noted otherwise, Hazardous Materials** and Dangerous Goods*** are strictly banned in all waste streams. If you are not sure or have a requirement to dispose of any of these types of items please contact us and we will find a solution for you.
**Hazardous Materials include Aerosol Cans, Tyres, Batteries, Asbestos, Chemicals of any kind, Oil Heaters, Gas Bottles, Fire Extinguishers, Old Insulation, Fibro, Fibreglass roof sheeting, Fibro-cement sheeting, Ammunition, Flares, Paint, Paint Related Products, Other Prescribed or Hazardous Wastes, Bio Wastes or any Liquid or Flammable Waste like Fuel and Oil, Poisons, or any other Liquid Waste.
***Dangerous Goods include Explosive Substances and Articles, Gases, Flammable Liquids and Solids, Self-Reactive Substances and Solid Desensitized Explosives, Substances liable to spontaneous combustion, substances which, in contact with Water, emit Flammable and/or Toxic Gases, Oxidizing Substances, Organic Peroxides, Toxic Substances, Infectious Substances, Radioactive Material, Corrosive Substances, Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances and Articles.
General Waste and Recycling
Commingled Recyclables
Commingled or co-mingled products are the recyclable packaging of your everyday food and beverage products and include the bottles, cans, cartons and paper found in both offices and homes. By recycling these products, you can save on your general waste costs (as these services are generally cheaper than waste removal), help the environment by reducing the space required at landfill and do your bit to contribute to a circular economy. Commingled products are sent to a sorting facility where they are separated into their individual waste streams such as glass, metal and plastic. These waste streams are then sent on to be recycled into new products. You'll generally find these bins are smaller in size, transportable with wheels and have a yellow lid.
Allowed
- Aluminium Cans
- Steel & Tin Cans
- Plastic Bottles & Containers
- Plastic Pots, Tubs and Trays
- Glass Bottles & Jars
- Light Paper & Cardboard
- Clean Foil
Prohibited
- General Waste
- Plastic Bags
- Bubble & Plastic Wrap
- Waxed Cardboard
- Foam & Polystyrene
- Tissues & Paper Towels
- Food Scraps
- Food Packaging & Wrappers
- Non-Recyclable Packaging
- Broken Ceramics & Glass
- Paper & Cardboard
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
General Waste
While recycling or re-use is always the best option, there is often still a need for disposal of any non-recyclable waste. This is know as general, putrescible or household waste and includes all materials that are not fit for recovery or recycling such as waxed cardboard, plastic bags and residual food scraps. Bin sizes and types can vary, some with wheels for mobility and others that can compact the waste on site. It is collected by trucks that can compact and/or transport the waste to a transfer facility for additional compaction before going to landfill. While some landfills are equipped to capture some of the gases that are created and convert them to electricity, general waste is our biggest contributor to landfill space and the consequential greenhouse gases created. Separating your waste streams for their recyclable component can contribute to reducing these factors as well as the cost to transport and dispose of the waste. Just remember, your general waste bin will have weight limits and additional costs if it becomes too heavy so make sure you only place light materials in this bin.
Allowed
- General Household Rubbish
- Light Commercial Waste
- Light Furniture & Appliances
- Light Construction Waste
- Food Packaging & Wrappers
- Non-Recyclable Packaging
- Light Garden Waste*
- Paper & Cardboard*
- Plastic Materials*
- Broken Ceramics & Glass*
- Aluminium, Steel or Tin Cans*
- Clean Foil*
Prohibited
- Tyres and Rubber Products
- Gas Bottles & Canisters
- Fire Extinguishers
- Mattresses
- Batteries
- Liquid Waste
- Soil, Sand, Clay, Rocks & Turf
- E-Waste (VIC only)¹
- Other Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
¹ E-Waste is prohibited for disposal in General Waste bins in Victoria only, although we highly encourage you to dispose of e-waste via a dedicated e-waste service.
Paper and Cardboard
Mixed Cardboard and Paper
Cardboard comes in many shapes and sizes and is very versatile for use. You'll often find it holding your packaged goods, eggs, pizzas and even your paper towels and cling wrap. It is also one of the easiest materials to recycle as being made from fibres, it can be easily broken down and repurposed into new products. Cardboard is biodegradable and has a high emission factor when it breaks down in a landfill. By recycling cardboard, you can help reduce these greenhouse gasses and the amount of new trees required to create the same products. Not all cardboard is recyclable though. Waxed or treated cardboard can't be placed in these bins. You can however, include any non-confidential office paper, magazines, books and newspapers. Cardboard bins come in many sizes, some small and transportable with blue lids and some as large cages.
Allowed
- Cardboard
- Newspaper & Magazines
- Office paper
- Shredded paper
- Envelopes
- Books
Prohibited
- Wet Cardboard
- Waxed Cardboard
- Receipt Paper
- Laminated Paper
- Adhesive or duct tape
- General Waste
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Paper
Generally used within office locations, paper bins are for the recycling of any non-confidential or sensitive information. By recycling paper, you can help the environment as paper is 100% recyclable. Each tonne of paper recycled can save up to 13 trees, as well as reduce space and greenhouse gas emissions at landfill. Just remember, that if the paper you are recycling relates to personal information, sensitive or confidential business documents then you will require a security paper bin that can be locked and the contents securely destroyed. Check out the Secure Document Destruction options for more information.
Allowed
- Any Non-Confidential Paper
- White or Coloured Paper
- Shredded Paper
- Manilla Folders
- Dividers
- Newspapers & Phone Books
- Magazines & Brochures
Prohibited
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Secure Document Destruction
The Privacy Act and other government legislation requires compliance to strict privacy and data security laws. Utilising a secure destruction service for removal of any sensitive or confidential information can eliminate any non-compliance to these laws as well as the likelihood of any identity or intellectual property theft. These bins can be locked, with keys provided and you can place most paper types into this bin, with or without staples or paperclips. Some services also allow you to securely destroy ring binders, archive boxes and other media types. Bins are transported to an accredited facility and the contents destroyed within a secure environment. Service providers can also produce a certificate of destruction if required. Secure destruction doesn't just relate to paper. Contact us today for any other secure destruction needs you may have.
Allowed
- Business & Personnel Records
- Tenders & Contracts
- Medical & Patient Records
- Architectural Plans & Drawings
- Promotional Documents
- Other Confidential Paper
- Papers with Staples & Clips
- Manilla Folders & Ring Binders
- Plastic Sleeves & Dividers
- Other Office Papers
Prohibited
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Organics
Green / Garden Waste
Green waste refers to any organic waste that comes from various green spaces such as gardens and parks. It includes grass clippings, tree branches, prunings, weeds, leaves and bark, along with any untreated timber waste from old furniture or construction projects. By separating this waste into a green waste bin, you'll ensure that the contents are sent for mulching and reuse. Green waste will go on to become soil improvers, fertilisers, mulch and compost. Just remember that the green waste you place in this bin needs to be light and small in diameter. No soil, large tree branches, stumps or logs > 15cm diameter and no palm tree trunks. By recycling your green waste, you'll divert the waste from landfill, saving both cost and landfill space which makes it a much more sustainable option.
Allowed
- Leaves
- Grass clippings
- Shrubs
- Branches & Twigs
- Small Tree Trunks
- Palm Fronds
- Hay
- Flowers
- Woodchips
- Bark
Prohibited
- Palm Tree Trunks
- Wood > 15cm Diameter
- Large Tree Roots
- Synthetic Grass
- Rocks, Stones & Pebbles
- Dirt/Soil, Sand & Clay
- Construction Waste
- General Waste
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Timber (Untreated)
Timber bins generally come in bulk bin sizes which are used for the removal of larger timber pieces. Separating your timber from your general waste has many benefits. It reduces the bulky waste from your general waste bin, diverts the waste from landfill and creates the potential for reuse. This saves on cost as well as the environment. Recycled timber often gets a second life in construction or furniture making or it can be mulched to make new timber products, animal bedding or even bio filters. The timber to be recycled needs to be untreated. Painted, varnished, stained or treated timber can contain harmful chemicals and can't be recycled.
Allowed
- Structural Timber
- Soft Wood
- Hard Wood
- Timber Pallets
- Chipboard
- Timber Fence Palings
- Decking
Prohibited
- Treated Timber
- Painted & Varnished Timber
- All Other Green Waste
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Masonry
Concrete
Often, concrete is too heavy to be placed into a general waste or construction bin, so a separate concrete bin is required. These bins allow for the disposal of heavy demolition waste such as concrete and asphalt. The concrete is sent to a resource recovery facility where it is crushed and repurposed as road base or aggregate. This recycled product has many uses in the building, construction and landscape industries. By recycling concrete, you'll reduce the space required at landfill as well as the need to mine gravels to create new concrete products. Concrete containing steel reinforcing is recyclable as the steel can be removed with magnets during the recycling process.
Allowed
- Concrete
- Embedded steel reinforcement
- Asphalt
Prohibited
- Shotcrete embedded with reinforcement
- General Waste
- Green Waste & Soil
- Other Construction / Demolition
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Mixed Construction and Demolition
Construction and Demolition or C&D waste is made up of the materials typically generated through construction, site and domestic clean-ups or household renovations. This waste is heavier than general waste and includes a mixture of bricks, pavers, tiles, timber, and metal. Weight restrictions apply for lifting and transporting this waste, so if you need to remove large quantities of heavy materials, select either a smaller bin or distribute the heavy materials over multiple loads with the remaining space taken up with lighter materials.
Allowed
- Timber
- Bricks
- Plasterboard
- Concrete (Dry)
- Metal
- Green Waste
- Mortar
- Roof tiles
- Floor tiles
- Rocks, Stones & Pebbles
- Asphalt
- Rubble
Prohibited
- Asbestos
- Tyres
- Food Waste
- Palm Tree Trunks
- E-Waste (VIC only)¹
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Metals
Scrap Mixed Metal
Metal products include aluminium, steel, copper and alloy and all are 100% recyclable. By recycling metal, you can reduce the drain on resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the space required at landfill. Repurposing metals requires much less energy and water to produce new products than the same production using new metals. Most households and businesses will have metals that can be recycled and by utilising a scrap metal bin, you'll contribute to the circular economy and a more sustainable future.
Allowed
- Aluminium, Steel & Tin Cans
- Light & Heavy Steel
- Stainless Steel
- Copper & Brass
- Wrought & Cast Iron
- Lead, Zinc & Tin
- Copper Wire
- Electric Motors
- Whitegoods
- Clean Foil
- Alloy & Steel Wheels
- Scrap Mixed Metal
Prohibited
- Plastic & Glass
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Liquids
Grease Trap Waste
Found in a various sizes, grease traps are used to stop the flow of grease, fats and oils into the waste water network. Regular maintenance is required which includes clearing blockages, removing excess build up, inspection and cleaning.
Allowed
- Grease Trap Waste
Prohibited
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Septic Waste
Septic tanks require periodical emptying depending on size and usage. A service can include clearing blockages, removing contents and inspection.
Allowed
- Septic Tank Waste
- Grey Water Tanks Waste
- Portable Toilet/Portaloo Waste
Prohibited
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***
Special
Electronic Waste
Electronic Waste or E-Waste, is one of the most rapidly increasing waste streams. It consists of discarded electronics and electrical components. These items can be environmentally harmful if disposed of in landfill as they can contain toxic and hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, cadmium and fire retardants. However, if disposed of correctly, these recyclable components can be recovered for reuse and the hazardous materials can be treated accordingly. Anything with a battery or a power cord can be recycled and this includes large and small appliances and whitegoods as well as computer hard drives, USB's, keyboards and even the mouse.
Allowed
- TV Screens & Monitors
- Computers, Laptops & Tablets
- Scanners, Copiers & Printers
- Keyboard and Mouse
- Hard Drives
- Webcams
- Modems
- USB Drives
- Mobile Phones
- DVD & CD Players
- Fax Machines
- Batteries
- Alarm Clocks, Radios & Cameras
- Wiring
Prohibited
- Fridges
- Freezers
- General Waste
- All Other Waste Streams
- Hazardous Materials**
- Dangerous Goods***