Recycling is one of the easiest actions we can do every day in our home to benefit the environment.
Recycling is when a waste item is collected and reprocessed into something new. It may or may not take the same form.
Recycling conserves raw materials and energy that would otherwise be used to make new products, reduces the need for new waste disposal facilities and creates jobs in collection, sorting and processing
Each Council area has a unique waste stream. Ku-ring-gai has a high volume of garden and paper waste compared to other areas in Sydney, so the more we can avoid sending to landfill the better for our environment and our community.
Recycling tips and facts
Where does it all go?
What goes in your recycling bins?
| Bin |
Put it in |
Leave it out |
| Paper recycling (blue lid) |
Newspapers and magazines, office paper and envelopes (window face are fine), telephone books, clean cardboard such as egg and cardboard milk cartons, tissue boxes and clean pizza boxes |
Nappies, food-soiled paper and cardboard, waxed cardboard, plastic bags and plastic wrap. |
| Mixed recycling (yellow lid) |
Disposable plastic bottles and containers from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, aluminum and steel cans including aerosols, empty dry paint tins, glass bottles and jars, and foil-lined milk and juice cartons |
Window or mirror glass, plastic toys, crockery, porcelain, ceramics, plastic bags and wrap, polystyrene packing foam (even with a recycling triangle and number on it), foam meat trays, and paint tins containing paint |
Download the A - Z Waste Disposal Guide 2013.pdf (pdf. 431KB)
Recycling other material
Bikes
Your old bike could make a real difference to someone's life in Africa or our Aboriginal communities. Find out more at Bikes 4 Life
The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
Books
Donate your old books to Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury. They will sell them in their book fairs to raise money for their great cause. Find out Lifeline Drop Off Points
The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
Car batteries
Car batteries can be returned to their place of purchase or to scrap metal recyclers or at a Chemical CleanOut.
Charity stores
Of course charities such as St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and Lifeline are always looking for donations and accept clothing, books, household items and more that are in good condition. For items other than clothes, contact the charity first to see if they can use your goods.
Chemicals
Drop off old household chemicals at the next regional Chemical CleanOut.
Christmas Trees
Natural Christmas trees can be recycled via our green waste service. Please ensure your tree is cut into pieces around 600mm in length before placing them in the green waste bin.
For details of your next collection click here.
Clothes
Clothes can be dropped off at many charity bins in the area. Please make sure you put the items in the bin and not beside it, otherwise they may not get to the charity. You can also drop them off at stores directly, try St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and Lifeline
Computers, e-waste and televisions
Ku-ring-gai residents can now recycle up to 15 items of e-waste or televisions for free.
Corks
Find a list of organisations in Sydney who can re-use your corks. Visit the Recycling Near You website
Fridges and freezers
Book a whitegoods collection and your whitegoods will be picked up and recycled.
Cleanup & Whitegoods Collection
Furniture
Old furniture can be dropped off at many charity stores. Try St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and Lifeline.
The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
Household alkaline batteries
Drop off your old batteries at Aldi Stores.
Lamps and light globes - Compact fluorescent lamps/globes (CFLs)
Drop off lamps/globes at one of our Chemical CleanOuts or at IKEA stores.
Mattresses
Using a mattress recycling company reduces landfill and up to 90% of each mattress is able to be recycled. Why not try one of these recycling services? Landsavers Mattress Recycling, Mattress Recyclers and Sydney Mattress Recycling.
Medicine
Drop off old medicines at your local pharmacy through the Return Unwanted Medicines program.
Metals
There are a number of pick-up and drop-off organisations who will recycle your scrap metal. Visit the Recycling Near You website
Mobile phones
Drop off your old mobile phones at Council Chambers or one of our libraries. Phones that can be reused are sent to developing countries to assist with communication in remote areas, while phones that can’t be used are sent to a licensed recycler.
Recycling mobile phones raises much-needed funds for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance as part of the Aussie Recycling Program.
Oil Heaters
Can only be disposed of at Chemical Collections.
Printer cartridges
Drop off your old cartridges at Council Chambers for recycling.
Plastic bags
Some supermarkets recycle plastic bags – check with yours.
Plastic other (soft)
Local Coles supermarkets are now accepting 'other' soft plastics for recycling in addition to their plastic bag recycling program.
Nearby participating Coles supermarkets are Lindfield, Turramurra, Chatswood and Hornsby.
Visit recycling near you for items included in the program and for additonal information.
Other recycling programs
Visit Recycling Near You for more recycling info.
The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
Sell or share unwanted items
If you have clothes, toys, tools or any other unwanted items which are still in good condition and working order, you could consider selling or sharing them or giving them away. You can sell unwanted pieces on websites like eBay or Gumtree, you can hire things out at Open Shed, and you can list items to give away at sites like Freecycle or Ziilch.
The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre
Toys
Toys can be dropped off at many charity stores. Try St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross and Lifeline.
Tyres
You can recycle your unwanted tyres at Kmart Tyre and Auto, Beaurepairs, Dunlop or Goodyear stores. Find the nearest one to you on the Recycling Near You website
