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Rubbish, recycling and food waste

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Everything you need to know is now in a single handy guide.

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Or request a physical copy to be mailed to you.

 
 


Recycling bin

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Please empty food and drinks from containers before recycling. All items must be loose, not bagged. Soft plastic carry and shopping bags are not recyclable. Remember, if in doubt, leave it out!

What to put in your recycling bin

  • Recyclable items should fit into the following four categories:
  • Clean paper and cardboard
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Aluminium packaging like food tins, drink cans, scrunched foil, empty deodorant cans and loose metal lids from jars or bottles
  • Plastics with recycling symbols 1 to 5:

 recycling plastic codes 1recycling plastic codes 2recycling plastic codes 3recycling plastic codes 4recycling plastic codes 5

What not to put in your recycling bin

  • Medical waste, including insulin needles, masks and gloves
  • Car parts of any kind
  • Highly flammable materials: chemicals, paint tins or gas bottles
  • Bagged domestic waste or recycling in a plastic bag
  • Clothing, shoes and fabric
  • Soft plastics — items that can be scrunched into a ball:
  • Food packaging, e.g. chip or lolly wrappers, zip lock bags
  • Cling wrap
  • Plastic bags
  • Milk/juice cartons liquid paperboard or Tetra Pak
  • Takeaway coffee cups, straws and cutlery (including biodegradable or compostable)
  • Any black plastic, e.g. plastic meat trays or plant pots
  • Electrical waste, including mobile phones and anything with a power cord or battery
  • Rubber and latex
  • Timber
  • Foam or polystyrene
  • Ceramics
  • Shredded paper
  • Plastics with recycling symbols 6 and 7:

recycling plastic codes 6recycling plastic codes 7


    Rubbish bin (general waste)

    casey bins

    Use the rubbish bin if you are not sure what container to use. From September 2022, new or replacement rubbish bins will have red lids, in line with the new Victorian standards. All items must be bagged when put in your rubbish bin.

    What to put in your rubbish bin

    • Nappies
    • General household waste
    • Takeaway coffee cups, straws, and cutlery (including biodegradable or compostable)
    • Clothing that cannot be donated to charity
    • Broken glass and ceramics
    • Black plastics
    • Milk/juice cartons or Tetra Pak
    • Plastic bags and soft plastics
    • Shredded paper
    • Polystyrene
    • Plastics with recycling symbols 6 and 7:

    recycling plastic codes 6recycling plastic codes 7

    What not to put in your rubbish bin

    • Anything that you can put in your recycling bin
    • Anything that you can put in your food and garden waste bin
    • Paint
    • Hazardous materials
    • Electrical waste, including mobile phones and anything with a power cord or battery
    • Batteries


    Food and garden waste bin

    casey bins

    Converting food waste into compost is good for the environment, and residents now have the option to put food scraps into their food and garden waste bin or their rubbish bin. New or replacement food and garden waste bins will have green lids.

    What to put in your food and garden waste bin

    • All food leftovers (including meat, bones, coffee grounds, paper towels, etc.)
    • Garden organics (including grass and small prunings)
    • Fruits and vegetables (including citrus and hard-to-compost items)
    • Meat and bones (both cooked and raw)
    • Fish and seafood (excluding hard shells such as oyster shells)
    • Eggs and eggshells
    • All bakery items, including bread and cakes
    • Rice, pasta, cereal and noodles
    • Loose tea leaves and coffee grounds (excluding tea bags and coffee pods)
    • Soups, sauces, curries and dips
    • Cooking oil (small amounts only. Pour it in, no containers)
    • Fast food leftovers
    • Plate scrapings
    • Spoiled food
    • Used paper towels, napkins, paper bags, newspaper and tissues
    • Weeds and flowers
    • Grass and leaves
    • Garden prunings (including weeds and rose trimmings)
    • Small sticks, toothpicks, skewers and uncoated chopsticks
    • Food-spoiled papers

    What not to put in your food and garden waste bin

    • general household waste
    • plastic bags or liners (including compostable or degradable items). They do not break down in the composting process. To avoid bin smells, line your food waste container with a used paper towel or newspaper, as these are accepted in your food and garden waste bin.
    • soil or stones
    • timber
    • building or renovation materials
    • Plastic or biodegradable bags (these do not break down in the composting process)
    • Food packaging, including aluminium foil, cling wrap, fruit stickers and containers.
    • Nappies and wipes (including compostable and biodegradable)
    • Medical waste
    • Coffee pods and tea bags
    • Coffee cups (including compostable)
    • Pet poo and kitty litter (including biodegradable waste). Australia has strict standards on animal products used for composting. Please dispose of pet poo in your regular rubbish bin.
    • Ash and tree stumps
    • Treated and painted timber
    • Concrete, bricks and rocks
    • Glass
    • Metal
    • Dishcloths or textiles
    • Cigarette butts
    • Drier lint and vacuum cleaner dust
    • Biodegradable and compostable bags, cutlery and paper plates

    Tips for Using a Kitchen Caddy

    Preventing smells and pests 

    • Watch this video for tips on preventing smells and pests in your food and garden waste bin.
    • More suggestions for preventing smells and pests in your food and garden waste bin include:
    • Keep your food and garden waste bin in the shade.
    • Line your container with garden prunings to stop food scraps from sticking to the bottom of the container.
    • Layer food waste in between lawn clippings or garden prunings.
    • Wash your bin out from time to time.
    • Store food scraps in a sealed bucket or container until the night before your big day—empty scraps into your food and garden waste bin before they are collected.
    • Keep seafood, bones, and meat scraps in the freezer until the night before your collection day.
    • Do not overfill your bin or caddy. Keep the lid securely closed.
    • Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) in your caddy and food and garden waste bin to absorb smells.
    • Clean up any spills or mess around your caddy or bin.
    • Let hot food cool down before placing it in your caddy or bin.
    • Line your caddy with a piece of newspaper or wrap food waste in a small amount of used paper towel or newspaper.
    • Store your caddy in the fridge.
    • Rinse your caddy regularly. For a thorough clean, wash it with detergent or eucalyptus oil or place it in the dishwasher.


    Printable resources

    Printable posters (for home, school and community). Display these posters for a quick reminder on handling rubbish, recycling, and food and garden waste.

       

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