Recycling

Weekly Summer Recycling is from Mon 14 Dec 2020 to Fri 29 Jan 2021. Recycling bins are collected weekly during this period. 

Please only place accepted material into household recycling bins.

Our recycling goes to Polytrade to be sorted, baled and sent to manufacturers to be made into new products. Learn more about recycling contamination and have your say on our Draft Waste Contamination Policy here. 

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

  • 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
  • FREE disposal of excess recycling is also available. The waste disposal guide let's you know what can be recycled FREE of charge at our: 

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.

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. 

Recycling tips 

  • Download the Recycling Guide(PDF, 13MB) . A recycling 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 and rinse out your containers / bottles 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   
  • Pizza boxes (small amounts of greased only. If greased has soaked through the cardboard, please place the bottom in the rubbish and top in the recycling bin)
  • 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 with no battery or electrical components  
  • Take away/food containers (rinsed)   
  • Medicine bottles (please empty and remove personal labels) 
  • 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.

An additional recycling bin can be ordered for a once off fee of $65. 

Complete the online order form or call customer service on 5950 1000 or 1300 850 600

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.

Find Your Bin Calendar

Recycling is collected every fortnight. 

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

Bin Inspections

Just one misused recycling bin can contaminate the whole recycling truck, resulting in the entire truck contents being sent to landfill rather than recycled.

 

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.

 

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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