Recycling

Recycle right and help keep waste fees as low as possible.

One of the most effective ways to recycle right is to ensure containers are empty before they are placed in the bin.

Dangerous items such as gas bottles, vapes, e-waste and batteries should NEVER be disposed of in ANY kerbside bin.

These can be disposed of for FREE at Tyabb, Rye and Mornington Resource and Recovery Centres.

  • Paper and cardboard (dry, not greasy)
  • Glass jars and bottles*
  • Food and drink cans*
  • Food and drink plastic containers*
  • Laundry containers*

*Emptied and rinsed, loose in the bin

 

 

Keep all recycling LOOSE. Don't place in boxes or bags.

For more information:

waste and recycling disposal guide

Free of charge items at our resource recovery centres

 

 

Find your recycling bin day on Find your bin day

Recycling is collected fortnightly (including public holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day).

Summer weekly recycling 21 Dec 2026 - 29 Jan 2027

Place your recycling bins on the nature strip with the wheels facing your property the night before collection day.

Bring your recycling bin back in by the end of the day of collection.

After your recycling is picked up by the truck, it is taken to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Recyclables are placed on high-speed conveyer belts where they are sorted into different categories. Once your recyclables are sorted, they are compacted and transported to different processing facilities to be made into new products.

Watch the Planet Ark video to see how it all works

Where do each of the materials go?

Plastics

  • PET (1) is sorted at the Coolaroo and Laverton Material Recovery Facilities (MRF’s), with the most common products being water and soft drink bottles. They are then transported for further processing at the Circular Plastics Australia Altona facility. 100% of this plastic is used to produce new bottles in Australia.
  • HDPE (2) and PP (5) are sorted at the Coolaroo and Laverton Material Recovery Facilities, with the most common products being milk bottles as well as yoghurt and other food containers. They are then processed further at the Circular Plastics Australia Laverton facility (same site as the Laverton MRF). 100% of this plastic is used to produce new bottles in Australia.

Paper and Cardboard

  • Is sorted at the Coolaroo and Laverton Material Recovery Facilities (MRF’s) and then transported to Australian and Asian facilities to be made into consumer packaging and box board as well as stationery and paper products. Most of the product is re-used within Australia.

Glass

  • Is sorted at the Coolaroo and Laverton Material Recovery Facilities (MRF’s) and then transported for glass beneficiation (glass bottle production) or road base. 100% is reused in Australia.

Aluminium

  • Is sorted at the Coolaroo and Laverton Material Recovery Facilities (MRF’s) and then transported to Asian facilities to be made into food grade packaging.

Steel

  • Is sorted at the Coolaroo and Laverton Material Recovery Facilities (MRF’s) and then made into tin plate and other products in Australia, with a small amount exported.
  • The Shire provides a 240L recycling bin to all households.
  • If you want an extra recycling bin it is a one-off fee of $110
  • If you have moved and do not have a rubbish and/or recycling bin, please get in touch.

For items not accepted in your kerbside bin, check out the waste and recycling disposal guide or Free of charge items at our resource recovery centres

Further information is on our Order a new or larger bin page.

Order new bin

If your recycling bin was placed on the kerbside the night before the day of collection, it should be emptied by the end of the collection day.

If your recycling bin was not collected (and doesn't have a bin tag or is taped shut), please call us on or 1300 850 600 within 2 business days.

Our new trucks have a slower lift which closes the lid after releasing the bin. If you suspect the bin hasn't been emptied, please lift the lid to check before reporting.

What happens next: Leave your bin out in its usual collection spot. We'll come by to empty it.

If your bin is overloaded or has contamination in it (indicated by either a bin tag, sticker and/or tape) it will not be emptied until the issue is resolved before the next collection day. Use our waste guide to dispose of your waste correctly.

Dangerous items such as gas bottles, vapes and batteries (loose or embedded in toys/phones/appliances) should NOT be disposed of in kerbside bins. These can be disposed for FREE at our resource recovery centres.

 

Excess household recycling can be disposed of free of charge, simply by taking it your closest Resource Recovery Centre hopper

Excess household recycling must be separated from any other items and free of any contamination.

Other items can also be recycled at the Resource Recovery Centres.

Some items are free or redeemable using your waste vouchers. Visit our Waste and Recycling Guide or Free of charge items at our resource recovery centres

 

Waste Contamination

Contamination in the recycling stream is any item or material that is not accpeted in your kerbside bin.                                                                                 This material goes to landfill and resources, that could have been remade into new products, are lost. It also comes at a significant financial cost. Contaminated bins cost the Shire and ratepayers over $1,00,000 per year. The Shire's Waste Contamination policy helps educate residents so that we bring contamination rates down.

Bin Inspections

Bin inspections are part of the Shire’s waste education program to reduce contamination and increase rates of recycling.

Find out more by visiting our Bin Inspection Program page.

What if I mistakenly put the wrong thing into my recycling bin?

If you have placed a few incorrect items (e.g. packaging, not accepted plastic, metal) into your recycling bin, it will still be collected.

If there are significant amounts of contamination or material such as general waste/food scraps, then your bin will not be emptied until the contamination is removed.

Find what can put into your recycling bin in the What's accepted section.

How will you know if there is contamination?

Shire officers, contractors or drivers may check your bins before they are emptied. Bins with no contamination will receive a smiley bin tag.

Bins with contamination will receive a sad bin tag to let householders know which item/s do not belong in the bin and may be taped shut to alert drivers not to empty. 

When will a bin NOT be emptied?

If a bin has large amounts of contamination or hazardous materials, it won’t be emptied.

Will I receive a contamination fine?

Council officers will work with households to identify and correct the contamination.

  • Step 1: A bin tag will be placed on the bin to inform households of which items can’t go into the bin.
  • Step 2: On the second contamination event, a letter is sent to residents, together with educational material on how contaminating items can be properly disposed or recycled.
  • Step 3: After the third significant contamination event within a six-month period, the household will be contacted directly to discuss how the Shire can assist with using the recycling or green waste bins correctly. If this is unsuccessful, then a fine may be issued.
  • Step 4: If significant contamination occurs after a fine has been issued, the Shire may suspend the recycling or green waste service.

What if someone else was responsible for the contamination?

Council officers will investigate if someone else has placed contamination in your bin. These cases are usually not isolated to one household and are repeat behaviours.

We recommend using a Bin Lid Latch to deter people lifting your lid and placing the bin out as late as possible.

Bin Audits

Bin audits are undertaken yearly, as part of our contract, to assess the overall rate of contamination in our waste streams. Approx. 400 households are randomly selected and the content of their bins collected, sorted, weighed and recorded.

No personal information is included. only the suburbs visited are noted.

  

  

Back to top