Canberra, we’ve answered your recycling questions.
12 November 2025
In brief:
- This article provides answers to frequently asked recycling questions.
- It includes information on local recycling and disposal options.
Whether it’s about aerosol cans, nappies, or plant pots, recycling isn’t always straight forward.
We have answered some of Canberra’s most frequently asked recycling questions.
What can I put in my household recycling bin?
- Glass bottles and jars – clean and empty.
- Plastic bottles and containers – clean and empty. You can squash milk bottles for more room in your recycling bin.
- Meat trays – only the hard plastic bottom is recyclable. The thin film on top belongs in your general waste bin.
- Steel and aluminium cans – clean and empty. This includes aerosal cans as long as they are empty.
- Paper – not shredded and no receipts.
- Cardboard – flattened.
What can’t I put in my household recycling bin?
- Disposable coffee cups and the lids belong in your general waste bin.
- Bagged recycling items – make sure items are loose.
- Soft plastics belong in your general waste bin or you can take to a participating supermarket as part of the current soft plastics trial.
- Plant pots are reusable, but you can’t put them in your recycling bin. Find a location to donate or reuse.
- Nappies - belong in your general waste bin.
- Clothing/textiles are reusable but don’t belong in your recycling bin – find out more below.
You can check the A-Z guide to recycling and waste for information on how to dispose of specific items.
What can I do if my recycling bin is full?
If you have extra household recycling, particularly cardboard boxes, you can
For items that are too big to fit in your recycling bin, you can take them to a recycling drop-off centre, located in Belconnen, Gungahlin, Mitchell, Phillip and Tuggeranong.
What’s the smallest item I can recycle?
Avoid placing anything smaller than the size of a credit card in your recycling. These can slip through the machines and won’t be recycled.
Oh, and those little plastic fish-shaped soy sauce containers belong in general waste, as they are made from different grades of plastic and are too small for the machines.
I saw someone rummaging through my recycling bin. What can I do?
Some individuals have reported that their recycling bins are being checked for containers eligible for the 10-cent refund container deposit scheme.
If you have experienced this, you can contact the ACT Container Deposit Scheme to request stickers for your bins, indicating that you do not have any eligible containers (such as 10-cent bottles).
What about containers with food or liquid remaining?
Make sure to wipe, scrape or rinse out any food or drink before placing containers in the recycling bin. Clean and empty containers are ideal.
This includes pizza boxes. It is fine to have a small amount of oil but try to scrape all the food off before it is put in the recycling bin.
Can I recycle plastic or metal lids?
Metal and plastic lids smaller than a credit card will fall through the machines can’t be recycled through your household recycling bin.
Plastic and metal lids can be recycled through Lids4Kids. Lids4Kids is a Canberra-based volunteer organisation that rescues a range of small items and recycles them into new items which you can purchase.
Empty blister packs, and medicine packs can be dropped off at all ACT Chemist Warehouse stores, and some other outlets.
For more disposal options visit the A-Z guide to recycling and waste.
What about polystyrene?
Polystyrene is not recyclable in ACT recycling bins or at recycling drop-off centres.
You can ask the retailer where you purchased your goods if they can take it back. If a retail take-back option is not available, please dispose of it in your general waste bin.
You can dispose of large quantities of polystyrene at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre or the Mitchell Resource Management Centre, fees apply.
What is hazardous waste and why can’t it go in my bins?
If you’ve recently updated your house with a lick of paint, have left over fertiliser, or have an old gas bottle lying around these are classed as hazardous waste.
These items cannot go in household general waste or recycling bins for safety and environmental reasons.
For the full list of hazardous waste items and how to dispose of them, check the A-Z guide to recycling and waste.
Why can’t I put batteries in my household bins?
It's important to keep batteries out of household general waste and recycling bins. This includes devices like phones, laptops, or toys if they contain embedded batteries.
When batteries are compressed and crushed in waste collection trucks and facilities, they can spark fires putting staff’s lives, collection trucks, facilities and the environment at risk.
Batteries also contain chemicals like lead which can be harmful to human health and the environment.
Find out where to safely dispose of your batteries through specialised battery recycling programs.
How do I recycle my old clothes?
A huge number of textiles end up in landfill each year.
Clothing, blankets, and fabrics cannot be placed in your recycling bin. They can get tangled and damage the machinery, which is designed to recycle household packaging.
Canberra has a vibrant second-hand clothing community. You can find a store or organisation near you by checking for reuse options in Canberra.
Any options for car seats and prams?
Roundabout Canberra provides high quality, essential baby and children's items to families in need. They take donations for a range of good quality second-hand children’s items especially car seats and prams.
Find out more about how you can donate your car seats, prams and children’s items.
You can also donate good quality prams, strollers and other children’s items to Goodies Junction at Mitchell or Mugga Lane.
Still have more recycling-related questions? Check the A-Z guide to recycling and waste for information on how to dispose of specific items.
If you would like regular news and tips on local waste services and facilities, subscribe to the ACT Government's recycling and waste e-news.
