Recycling

We're still Recycling! All household recycling is now being taken to Polytrade in Dandenong, where it is sorted and baled for reprocessing. Please only place accepted material into household recycling bins.   

Recycling services are offered in two ways on the Mornington Peninsula:

  1. Fortnightly 240L kerbside bin collection (blue lid). Learn about what you can and can't put in your recycling bin below or find your recycling bin collection day. Bins are emptied on all public holidays
  2. Through our Mornington, Rye and Tyabb Resource Recovery Centres.  Our waste disposal guide let's you know what can be recycled FREE of charge at our Resource Recovery Centres.

You can order an additional Recycling Bin here.

Residents can now pick up free Bin Latches to secure bin lids from any of the Shire offices (Hastings, Mornington or Rosebud). Bin latches are easy to use and install. Bin latches stop rubbish from escaping when accidentally tipped over and prevents animals from accessing rubbish. Bin latches auto releases when emptied into the rubbish trucks.

Just one misused bin can contaminate an entire truck! Please ONLY place recyclable items in your recycling bin

Below we have listed some of the most common household items people look to recycle. If you are looking for a more comprehensive source of recycling information, please check out the Sustainability Victoria website or Planet Ark's recycling guide. Information on what you can or can't recycle at our Resource Recovery Centres and hoppers are also listed in our Waste Disposal Guide.

Recycling tips 

  • Download the Recycling Guide(PDF, 13MB) . A sticker can also be collected from the Shire's customer service offices or posted to your home.

  • Don't place recycling in plastic bags. Use a container or tub to carry your recyclables to the recycling bin.  

  • Empty the contents/liquids of your containers before placing in the recycling bin.

  • FREE disposal of excess recycling is available at our Resource Recovery Centres (Rye, Mornington and Tyabb) or hoppers (Sorrento, Dromana and Flinders). 

What CAN I put in my recycling bin (blue lid)?  

  • Paper / Cardboard
  • Newspapers & phone books
  • Magazines & junk mail   
  • Envelopes (including plastic windows)
  • Paper   
  • Flattened cardboard   
  • Breakfast cereal boxes 
  • Milk and juice cartons
  • Egg cartons 
  • Toilet rolls 
  • Paper books
  • Rigid / Hard Plastics

Plastics that cannot easily be scrunched into a ball or returns to its shape when scrunched, regardless if there is or is not a plastic identification number. Larger hard plastic items can be recycled at the Resource Recovery Centres. 

  • Drink and milk bottles (empty, rinsed and lids off)
  • Plastic lids (separated)
  • Pot plants 
  • Cups
  • Plastic children's toys   
  • Take away/food containers (rinsed)   
  • Medicine bottles (personal labels removed) 
  • Plastic cutlery 
  • Metals 
    • Soft drink cans
    • Food and pet cans
    • Foil (clean and scrunched up into a small ball) 
    • Aluminium food trays 
    • Pots and pans
    • Aerosol spray cans (empty)  
  • Glass 
  •  Glass bottles and jars (lids off)

What CAN'T go in my recycling bin 

  • Household waste 
    • Soft Plastics  (Any plastics that can be scrunched into a ball - these cannot be recycled through the Shire’s kerbside bin collection. However, specialised companies can recycle these, so look for a collection point at your local supermarket).    
    • Plastic bags
    • Plastic packaging
    • Cling wrap
    • Green shopping bags
    • Household rubbish
    • Crockery/Ceramics 
    • Pyrex 
    • Nappies 
    • Polystyrene   
    • Take away coffee cups
    • Paper towels 
    • Food
    • Textiles, clothing or shoes
  • Hazardous Waste
    • Oil and other fuel containers 
    • Chemicals 
  • Other
    • Garden/green waste
    • PVC
    • Black watering (irrigation/solar) pipes/hoses
    • Electrical conduit 
    • Electronic waste (anything with a cord, plug or battery). Electronic waste can be taken to the Resource Recovery Centres
    • Vinyl

After your recycling is picked up by the truck, it is taken to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Our recyclables are taken to the Polytrade 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.

FREE disposal of excess recycling is available at our Resource Recovery Centres (Rye, Mornington and Tyabb) or hoppers (Sorrento, Dromana and Flinders). 

Information on what you can or can't recycle at our Resource Recovery Centres and hoppers are also listed in our Waste Disposal Guide. 

If you are looking for a more comprehensive source of recycling information, please check out the Sustainability Victoria website or Planet Ark's recycling guide.  

The Shire’s Waste Initiatives helps residents to avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle their waste. Activities include the School Waste Education Sessions, Kerbside Bin Inspection Program, community talks and screenings of movies.

For current activities and programs view our Waste Initiatives page.

To learn about how the Shire is moving towards a reduction of waste going to landfill, go to the Our Waste Future page. 

The Eco Living Display Centre at The Briars in Mt Martha runs monthly workshops, for example composting and worm farms. Check their latest schedule at Eco Living Display Centre workshops.

Schools can also book an educational excursion to the Eco Living Display Centre. Hands-on activities linked to school curriculum target specific learning levels. Further information, bookings and enquiries can be found on the Eco Living Display Centre Schools Program page.

What is China’s ‘National Sword Policy’?

China is the world’s largest importer of recyclable materials.

Last year, in efforts to improve environmental and health conditions, China announced that from early this year, they would no longer accept unsorted, dirty or contaminated plastic, mixed paper and cardboard. The new policy imposes much tighter contamination thresholds on these recyclable streams.

How will it impact the Shire?

At present, it is business as usual.  

This issue is not unique to Victoria.  All Australian jurisdictions, and many other countries have a heavy reliance on the China export market.

We’re working with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG) and our contractors to fully understand the impact of this new policy. Our contractors have been developing high quality sorting facilities which will ease China’s new import standards.

Do I keep recycling?

YES, we still need to recycle. Recycling reduces the amount of natural resources and energy required to make new products. To ensure that we maximise our recycling:

  • Rinse/empty out all containers and bottles
  • Only place recyclables in your recycling bin
  • No Plastic Bags - Place only loose items in your recycling bin
  • FREE disposal of excess recycling is available at our Resource Recovery Centres (Rye, Mornington and Tyabb) or hoppers (Sorrento, Dromana and Flinders).  

What’s next?

The Shire is committed to best waste management practices- reducing the amount of waste generated, increase recovery of recyclable materials, and reduction in contamination. China’s restrictions provide an opportunity for Victorians to review our waste practices and look for opportunities to transition to a cleaner economy.

Alternative Resource Recovery Technologies may provide a solution to low value and/or non-recyclable materials. The Shire is working with the MWRRG to drive best practice in waste management.        

Summer Weekly Recycling

Weekly recycling returns from Monday 16 December 2019 until Friday 31 January 2020. Your recycling bin (blue lid) will be collected every week during this period. 

 

Bins will be emptied on all public holidays.

Find Your Bin Calendar

Recycling is collected every fortnight. 

Search for your bin calendar by address or area at Find Your Bin Day.

Report A Missed Recycling Bin Collection

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, please contact Shire’s Customer Service Team on 1300 850 600 or 5950 1000.

 

If your recycling lid has been stickered shut, contaminates were found and trucks have not emptied your bin. Trucks will not return until the next scheduled collection and the contaminates have been removed. 

 

Report a Damaged Recycling Bin

If your recycling bin becomes damaged, please contact the Shire’s Customer Service Team on 1300 850 600 to have it repaired or replaced. 

Report a Lost or Stolen Recycling Bin

If you think your bin may have been stolen or is lost, there are a couple of steps you can take: 

  1. Check your letterbox for a slip from your bin collection contractor  
  2.  If you don’t have a slip in your letterbox, submit a Lost Bin Declaration form

Please contact our Customer Service Team on 1300 850 600 for further information. 

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