What can I put in my kerbside bins?

Some items cannot be placed in your wheelie bins, although they can be disposed of or recycled at Council waste facilities or via other community or retail programs.

You can significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill by knowing what items can be recycled, and what items need to go in your general waste bin. This will ensure you recycle as much as possible, benefiting the environment and our community.

All kerbside bins must not exceed 40 kilograms. Bulky or heavy items that increase the weight of your bin to over 40 kilograms should be brought to a waste management facility for disposal.

Recycling bin

Not all items with a recycling symbol can be recycled through your household recycling bin. Look on the packaging for the Australasian recycling label. This label identifies where packaging can be disposed of or recycled.

You should empty, rinse, or wipe and dry containers and trays before you recycle them. Do not place your recycling in bags, keep it loose for sorting. 

The first column lists what you can put in your recycling bin. The second column lists what you cannot put in your recycling bin.

Yes, place these items in

No, do not place these items in

glass - bottles and jars metal - cans, foil and packaging aerosol cans milk and juice cartons (made from liquid paper) paper and cardboard plastic - bottles and containers.

garden waste (this belongs in your garden organics bin) food waste batteries disposable paper such as soiled tissues and wipes polystyrene compostable packaging soft plastics such as plastic bags, chip packets and zip-lock bags plastic household items except bottles and containers medical waste and nappies light bulbs household glass, for example, mirrors, windows or drinking glasses ceramic items, for example, coffee mugs and cookware scrap metal clothing, manchester, curtains and pillows e-waste, including printer cartridges motor oil hazardous waste.

View the video transcript.

General waste bin

Our waste facilities accept many materials for recycling and safe disposal. Residents should visit their nearest waste facility to dispose of recycling, hazardous or bulky items not accepted in wheelie bins.

The first column lists what you can put in your general waste bin. The second column lists what you cannot put in your general waste bin.

Yes, place these items in

No, do not place these items in

small appliances - DVD players and game consoles (appliances must not contain batteries) cold fire ash (double bagged) clothing, textiles, soft furnishing and manchester coffee pods compostable packaging cookware, crockery and cutlery small or light fitness and sporting equipment laminated wood, MDF, chipboard and painted timber glass - glassware, windows and mirrors (must be sealed inside a box or bagged) light bulbs and tubes (must be sealed inside a box or bagged) medicine and x-rays metal - cans, foil and packaging plastic - bags and soft plastics polystyrene printer cartridges and toner.

bricks, rocks and cement building materials motor vehicle parts or large metal objects  hot fire ash hazardous waste garden waste (this belongs in your garden organics bin).

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Garden organics bin

Garden organics can go directly into your bin. Do not place your garden organics in bags, keep it loose. Do not include any manufactured items, this will contaminate the mulch, reducing its quality and value. 

The first column lists what you can put in your garden organics bin. The second column lists what you cannot put in your garden organics bin.

Yes, place these items in	No, do not place these items in
grass clippings, weeds, plants and flowers tree, shrub or plant branches (cut down to fit in the bin) leaves and other garden trimmings.	plastic or plastic bags general waste or food scraps compostable packaging and containers soil or potting mix gravel, bricks, concrete or rocks potted plants garden tools and accessories like plant pots treated timber asbestos-containing material animal waste such as droppings or manure materials other than garden organics.

View the video transcript.

Disposing of hazardous items

Hazardous waste cannot be placed in your recycling, general waste or garden organics bins. Hazardous waste includes batteries, asbestos, paints and oils.

These items can be disposed of or recycled at Council’s waste facilities or through community or retail programs. Find out more about disposing of hazardous waste.

Search where to recycle or dispose

If you are unsure how to dispose of an item, you can search online to find recycling or disposal options.

Related links

• Find out when your recycling and organic bin will be collected.
• Learn about the waste hierarchy, recycling, bin safety, and compositing by watching our waste education videos.
• For more information on recycling, refer to Queensland Government's Recycling - let's get it sorted. 
• Discover tips for recycling with Simply 5: recycling made simple (Cleanaway)(PDF, 3MB)