A-Z of waste and recycling

Recycling bin
Ensure aerosol cans are empty before placing in your recycling bin, along with lid and nozzle.

Aerosol spray paint cans are not accepted in the kerbside recycling bin. Take spray paint to the Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre. See Council's Hazardous waste page for more information.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Take broken air conditioning units to any Recycling and Waste Centre for scrap metal recycling free of charge. The units are de-gassed and the metal recycled.

Recycling bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
If you have excess cans to recycle, you can drop them off free of charge to any of Council’s Recycling and Waste Centres except Lamb Island.
Alternatively, take them to a Containers for Change drop off location for a refund.

Clean aluminium trays and foil
Recycling bin
To recycle clean foil, scrunch into a ball around the size of a fist
Tip: Reuse your foil or trays for another job or wipe/rinse clean to recycle

Dirty aluminium trays and foil
General waste bin

Deceased animals
Recycling and Waste Centre
For disposal of deceased household animals, double wrap in plastic and take to one of Council's Recycling and Waste Centres. Let the gatehouse attendant know what you have for disposal when you arrive. Commercial disposal of household animals is not accepted. For more information Contact Council.

Animal droppings
General waste bin
Small quantities of animal droppings can either be composted in a special compost bin or bagged and placed in your general waste bin.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Birkdale, Redland Bay (residential only), Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke, Macleay and Russell Island Recycling and Waste Centres accept asbestos.

• Up to 10m2 or 175kg per load
• Double wrapped in thick (0.2mm) plastic sheeting and securely sealed with duct tape
• Declare at the gatehouse on arrival - it's a legislative requirement
• Must be hand-unloaded in the designated bin on site

Refer to Asbestos and fibre-cement sheeting for disposal requirements and let the gatehouse know what you have for disposal on arrival. Commercial and non-resident disposal fees apply. 

To ensure everyone's safety, Council treats any suspected asbestos containing material such as cement sheeting, plasterboard, gyprock or fibro product as asbestos (regardless of its age) plus stone benchtops. 

See also Fibro

General waste bin
Ensure ash is cold and bagged before disposal
Tip: Ash from untreated timber can also be placed in a compost bin in small quantities

General waste bin

All batteries contain hazardous substances, are a fire hazard and should not be disposed of in any bin
Household batteries, lithium batteries and all enclosed batteries are not accepted at any Council Recycling and Waste Centre. Swollen lithium batteries need to be treated with caution and are not accepted at any Council facility. See QFES for information on lithium-ion battery safety.

Household batteries
B-Cycle or Battery World
Search B-Cycle to find drop-off locations for household batteries
Swollen lithium batteries can be taken to Battery World

Lead acid vehicle batteries
Recycling and Waste Centre
Accepted at all Recycling and Waste Centres except Karragarra and Lamb
See also Cars

See EPIRBs

Recycling and Waste Centre
You can donate usable bikes to RecycleWorld or take to any Recycling and Waste Centre for scrap metal recycling.

Pharmacycle recycling drop-off points or the Recycling Station at IndigiScapes

General waste bin

Recycling bin
Make sure any plastic covers or contact film is removed before recycling.
Tip: Donate to charity or RecycleWorld before considering recycling or disposal

Recycling bin
Most bottle tops and caps can be re-attached to the bottle or jar and recycled

General waste bin
Steel beer bottle caps are too small to be recycled, place these in your general waste bin

Plastic and glass bottles and jars
Recycling bin
Recycle bottles and jars empty with the lids on.
Tip: squash bottles to make more room in your recycling bin 

Recycling and Waste Centre
If you have any excess plastic or glass bottles and jars you can take them to a Recycling and Waste Centre (excluding Karragarra and Lamb) free of charge for recycling. Alternatively, take accepted glass bottles to a Containers for Change drop off location for a refund.

Green waste bin

General waste bin
If you don’t have a green waste bin, small amounts of garden waste can be bagged and placed in your general waste bin.
Tip: Home compost systems are a low-cost option for managing large amounts of garden waste and make great fertiliser for your garden.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Small boats/dinghies less than 4m in length may be accepted at a Recycling and Waste Centre. Metal boats can be recycled in scrap metal and all other boats into general waste for landfill disposal. Large boats greater than 4m in length cannot be accepted. All boats must be hand unloaded.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Birkdale accepts clean bricks and concrete 
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply
Commercial and non-resident fees apply

Island commercial operators can dispose of bricks and concrete at Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre free of charge upon presentation of a same day ferry booking.

Redland Bay accepts clean bricks and concrete from residential sources only
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply 

Non-waxed cardboard
Recycling bin
Including cardboard boxes, pizza and cereal boxes, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, detergent boxes and tissue boxes.
Tip: fold boxes down to fit more in your recycling bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
Bulky or excess cardboard can be taken to Council's Recycling and Waste Centres (except Karragarra and Lamb Island).
Fees apply for commercial operators at Russell, North Stradbroke, Macleay and Coochiemudlo Recycling and Waste Centres

Waxed cardboard
General waste bin
For example, fruit and vegetable produce boxes

Recycling and Waste Centre
Take to any Council Recycling and Waste Centre for disposal

Lead acid car batteries
Recycling and Waste Centre
Accepted at all Recycling and Waste Centres excluding Karragarra and Lamb Island. 

Car bodies
Recycling and Waste Centre
Car bodies can be taken to all Council Recycling and Waste Centres free of charge. Vehicle must be drained of engine oil; coolant; brake fluid; transmission fluid; differential fluids and all fuel. A Vehicle Disposal Declaration Form(PDF, 163KB) must be completed and handed to gatehouse attendant prior to disposal. For Lamb and Karragarra Recycling and Waste Centres, send the completed declaration form to rcc@redland.qld.gov.au attention Waste Operations prior to disposal.

Motor oil
Recycling and Waste Centre
Recycle your waste motor oil (maximum of 20 litres per visit) at all Recycling and Waste Centres excluding Karragarra and Lamb Island (free of charge for residents, non-residents and commercial operators). Oil can be decanted on site and container taken home or disposed of in general waste bins.

Never pour engine oil down the drain, this can cause serious damage and injure marine life.

Car parts
Recycling and Waste Centre
Metallic car parts can be taken to all Council Recycling and Waste Centres for scrap metal recycling 

Car tyres and tyre rims
Recycling and Waste Centre
Car tyres can be recycled at all Council Recycling and Waste Centres except Karragarra and Lamb Island. If you are a resident, there is currently no charge to dispose of up to four tyres (with rims or without) in one transaction. If you are a resident and you bring in more than four tyres or the tyres are larger than SUV/4WD size, the additional tyre/s and larger tyres will be charged at the commercial rate.
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply at Birkdale and Redland Bay

Trailers
Recycling and Waste Centre
Standard box trailers can be taken to any Recycling and Waste Centre for scrap metal recycling

Recycling Station, IndigiScapes
Take small volumes of cassette and video tapes to the Recycling Station for recycling.

General waste bin

RecycleWorld or the Recycling Station
CDs/DVDs in good condition can be donated to RecycleWorld or charity for reuse. Non-usable CDs/DVDs and their cases can be taken to the Recycling Station at IndigiScapes.

General waste bin
Broken or damaged CDs/DVDs and cases

See Plastic sheeting, cellophane, bubble wrap, cling film and other soft plastics

See Asbestos & Fibro Cement Sheeting. Also, See Asbestos, fibre cement sheeting and renovation waste.

General waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
Metal or plastic drums that have previously contained chemicals must be taken to Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre. Please notify staff on arrival. For further information contact Council on (07) 3829 8999. Drums must be triple rinsed and dried.

Do not place chemicals in any residential bin.

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Acids and alkalis, coolants and brake fluids, glue and solvents, herbicides, household chemicals, lubricant grease, pesticides, pool chemicals, rust inhibitors, thinners, wood preservatives - free residential drop off in hazardous waste section. Commercial quantities not accepted.

• Residential only 
• Up to 20 litres 
• Ensure chemicals are in original container or approved sealed safe container which isn't broken or leaking. They can't be decanted on site.

See also Safe disposal of hazardous waste

General waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres accept residential quantities less than 1m³ of clean soil, currently free of charge with proof of residency.
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply

Clean soil is defined as soil that doesn't contain any rocks, concrete, green waste, sticks or other contaminants. Any soil containing rocks or other ground material must be separated out and hand unloaded into the general waste bins. Pool digs and commercial excavation aren't accepted, refer to Fill Wanted.

See Plastic sheeting, cellophane, bubble wrap, cling film and other soft plastics

Clothes in good condition
Recycling and Waste Centre
Clothes and textiles that are clean, stain free and in generally good condition can be taken to clothing bins located at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre. 

Please be aware that any materials left outside the bins cannot be collected and will be disposed of in landfill. If clothing bins are full, seek alternative bins or take them directly to the store you wish to donate to.

Search Recycle Mate for donation points near you

Clothes in poor condition
General waste bin

Choose to reuse: Clothes in poor condition can still be diverted from landfill. You can reuse the item as a rag in your house to clean or mop things with. You could compost the item if it is made from natural fibres (refer to the items cleaning instructions to see what it is made from). Some charities accept old clothes as ‘rags’ and some stores accept old clothing. Other times the rags are sent for remanufacturing into entirely new products.

Search Recycle Mate to find more options near you 

Takeaway coffee cups and lids
General waste bin
Tip: Takeaway coffee cups are mostly made from a composite or compostable material that cannot be recycled. Consider using a reusable cup instead.

Coffee grounds and tea leaves/bags
General waste bin
Reuse tip: Coffee grounds and tea leaves can be added to a worm farm or compost bin. Some tea bags may also be compostable, check the product packaging for details.

Coffee pods
Search Recycle Mate for drop-off locations for your coffee pod brand
General waste bin

General waste bin
Packaging that is labelled 'compostable' or ‘biodegradable’ including coffee cups, magazine wraps, takeaway packaging, cutlery and compostable bags cannot be recycled through yellow-lid recycling bins or composted through green waste bins.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Council offers an e-waste recycling service for residents and small businesses. E-waste, including computers and computer parts, can be taken to Recycling and Waste Centres (except Lamb Island and Karragarra Island).

See Council's E-waste page

Recycling and Waste Centre
Residential amounts (small trailer load) of concrete can be taken to Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply

Island commercial operators can dispose of bricks and concrete at Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre free of charge upon presentation of a same day ferry booking.

Redland Bay accepts concrete from residential sources only
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply 

Recycling and Waste Centre
Vegetable cooking oil is accepted at Birkdale, Redland Bay and North Stradbroke Island Recycling and Waste Centres. Oil can be decanted on site and container taken home. 

Recycling Station, IndigiScapes

General waste bin

General waste bin
Ensure vacuum cleaner contents are bagged before placing in your general waste bin. Depending on the contents, vacuum dust may be acceptable in a home compost bin or worm farm.

Recycling Station, IndigiScapes
DVDs/CDs and their cases  

General waste bin
Broken or damaged DVDs and cases

Search Motorhome Dump Points Australia

Recycling Station, IndigiScapes 
Accepts small e-waste including mobile phones and USB sticks. Ensure data is removed prior to drop-off.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Take larger e-waste such as computer and parts, small appliances and televisions to any Recycling and Waste Centre except Lamb Island and Karragarra Island.
Batteries must be removed prior to disposal. Search B-Cycle for a drop-off location. Recycling and Waste Centres cannot accept e-waste with an embedded battery.

See Council's E-waste page

Recycling bin
Tip: Most kinds of envelopes can be recycled in your yellow lid recycling bin. This includes envelopes with plastic windows but doesn’t include plastic padded envelopes which need to go in your general waste bin.

EPIRBs and flares should never be placed in any bin.
Valuable resources are diverted from real emergencies, searching for beacons that have accidentally activated in landfills. EPIRB batteries contain hazardous materials which should be disposed of properly. Refer to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for more information.

 Take to a Maritime Safety Queensland Flare disposal location

Search Recycle Mate for donation or recycling locations
Some optical stores and health funds accept unwanted glasses. They are sent away to be repaired, regraded and distributed to communities in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

General waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
Good quality fibreglass items such as boats can potentially be resold through RecycleWorld.
Poor quality fibreglass items and fibreglass insulation can be disposed of at any Recycling and Waste Centre.

See Asbestos & Fibro Cement Sheeting. Also, See Asbestos, fibre cement sheeting and renovation waste

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
You can take up to 20kg of fire extinguishers to Redland Bay for safe disposal. Residential only. Commercial quantities not accepted.

Redland City Council’s Recycling and Waste Centres do not accept flares and they must not be placed in any bin.

Take to a Maritime Safety Queensland Flare disposal location

Fluorescent lights or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) contain a small amount of mercury and should not be placed into any household bins.

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Take up to 20kg of unbroken fluorescent lights to Redland Bay for safe hazardous waste disposal. Residential only. Commercial quantities not accepted.

General waste bin

Reduce waste: Did you know, up to half the general waste bin is food scraps and garden waste? Organic waste in landfill produces methane contributing to climate change. By reducing and composting our organic waste we can significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Save food waste from landfill by composting your food scraps at home by taking advantage of Council's Compost Bin Subsidy Program. 

Recycling and Waste Centre
Fridges and other white goods can be taken to any Recycling and Waste Centre for scrap metal recycling

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Up to 20L only, must be in a sealed container. Residential only. Commercial quantities not accepted.

Donate to charity, RecycleWorld or dispose of at a Recycling and Waste Centre
Household furniture such as couches, chairs, tables and shelving

Search Recycle Mate for more locations near you

Gas bottles cannot be placed in any kerbside bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
BBQ gas bottles (only) can be taken to Birkdale, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island, Russell Island, Macleay Island and Coochiemudlo Island Recycling and Waste Centres for recycling. If in date, they can be taken to your local service station or most hardware stores for exchange.

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre 
Tradeflame / butane gas bottles to be disposed of at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre as hazardous waste. Residential waste only. Commercial quantities not accepted.

Return to supplier
All other gas bottles including LPG tanks / oxygen / acetylene / helium are not accepted at Recycling and Waste Centres and should be returned to the supplier where applicable.

Recycling Tip: Glass that has been purchased containing either food or drink can be placed in your kerbside recycling bin. All other glass is not recyclable in your yellow lid bin.

Glass jars and bottles
Recycling bin
Leave lids on

Glassware (glass other than bottles and jars)
General waste bin
Glassware that has not previously contained food or drink is not able to be recycled at this stage. This includes items such as drinking glasses, window glass and heat-resistant glass (pyrex).

Large quantities of glass should not be disposed of in any bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
Large panes of glass, such as window glass, can be taken to a Recycling and Waste Centre for disposal as landfill waste. 

General waste bin
If glue has been cured (is fully dry), it can be placed into your general waste bin.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Take non-cured glue to hazardous waste at Redland Bay

Green waste bin
Keep loose

General waste bin
Ensure it's bagged

Do not blow grass clippings onto the street
This is considered illegal dumping of green waste and can lead to pollution of the local waterways. Grass clippings in storm water drains can cause blockages and increases the chance of weeds to spread from one place to another.

Reuse tip: Grass clippings can be spread over your existing grass in a fine layer (they will compost into the soil from there). Do not place grass clippings around the base of trees. This can suffocate the tree and cause it to die. If you do place grass clippings/mulch around a tree, leave a gap between the trunk and the mulch to allow air flow. Piling the mulch up around the plant stem creates an environment conducive to disease. Grass clippings can also be composted. Please do not dispose of grass clippings in public places due to the possible risk of spreading weeds.

Green waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
From 6 October 2026, residents can drop-off green waste up to 12 times per vehicle, per financial year. Residential fees apply after 12 visits. 

Where does green waste go? Green waste is diverted from landfill through Council’s green waste bins and Recycling and Waste Centres. It is then taken to a composting facility where it's turned into a high-quality mulch or converted into clean, green electricity.

General waste bin
Green waste disposed of in your general waste bin goes to landfill.

See Safe disposal of hazardous waste

General waste bin
Allow heat beads to cool first

Recycling and Waste Centre
Including fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, vacuum cleaners & microwaves.

Remove any batteries prior to disposal and recycle at a B-cycle drop-off location.

See Syringes

Search Recycle Mate for local drop-off points

Recycling bin

General waste
Tetra paks

Recycling bin
Paper and cardboard

General waste bin
Plastic wrap

General waste bin
Bagged

General waste bin
Contained and sealed

Recycling bin
Most lids can be re-attached to the tub, bottle or jar and recycled

General waste bin
If a lid can't be reattached and is small, such as a beer bottle cap, place in your general waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre

Do not place CFL lightbulbs and lamps in any kerbside bin

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) should be disposed of at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre as hazardous waste.
Regular light bulbs and low energy light bulbs (e.g. CFLs) can also be taken to IKEA for recycling.

Search Recycle Mate for more drop-off locations 

General waste bin
Non-fluorescent light bulbs can be wrapped in paper and disposed of in your general waste bin.

General waste bin
Ensure fluid and cigarette lighters are empty

See Paper

Recycling and Waste Centre
Old mattresses can be disposed of at any Recycling and Waste Centre
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply at Birkdale and Redland Bay

Mercury is a hazardous substance and should not be disposed of in any kerbside bin

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Must be a small quantity, in a glass jar, lid taped shut and labelled.

Take to your local pharmacy
Search Recycle Mate for locations to take expired or unwanted medicines. The blister packs that most tablets come in can be recycled at IndigiScapes Recycling Station.

General waste bin
Empty blister packs

Recycling and Waste Centre
Scrap metal can be recycled at all Recycling and Waste Centres free of charge for residents, non-residents and commercial operators.

Recycling bin
Household metal packaging such as vegetable and food cans, pet food cans, soft drink cans, pie trays, empty aerosol cans and aluminium foil.

General waste bin
Paint tins (must be completely empty)

Paint tins can also be dropped off at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre as part of the Paintback program.

Recycling bin
Lids on

Donate to RecycleWorld or charity
If in resaleable condition

General waste bin
Small quantities - wrapped

Recycling and Waste Centre
Dispose in general waste at any Recycling and Waste Centre

Do not place mobile phones or batteries in any bin

Reuse tip: If your mobile is still working you can get it repaired, pass it on to family or friends, donate it to a charity, or sell it to a company that offers cash for old mobiles phones.

MobileMuster collection point or IndigiScape's Recycling Station

Recycling and Waste Centre
Recycle your waste engine oil (up to 20 litres per visit) at Birkdale, Redland Bay, Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke, Macleay and Russell Island Recycling and Waste Centres (free of charge for residents, non-residents and commercial operators). Oil can be decanted on site and container taken home or disposed of in general waste bins.

Never pour engine oil down the drain, this can cause serious damage and injure marine life.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Motor oil containers can be recycled at Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres for free.

Do not place motor oil containers in your recycling bin as the oil residue in oil containers can contaminate the load.

General waste bin
Bagged

General waste bin
Place in a rigid-walled sealed container

Recycling and Waste Centre or Public sharps container 
Residential only

See Paper

Cooking oil (vegetable oil only)
Recycling and Waste Centre
Residential cooking/vegetable oil (up to 20L) can be taken to Birkdale, Redland Bay and North Stradbroke Island Recycling and Waste Centres for recycling.
Oil should never be tipped down the drain as this can cause blockages.

General waste bin
If you are unable to take your oil to a Recycling and Waste Centre, always pour the oil into a jar before disposing of in your general waste bin.

Motor oil including hydraulic, gear and machine oil
Recycling and Waste Centre
Recycle your waste engine oil (up to 20 litres per visit) at Birkdale, Redland Bay, Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke, Macleay and Russell Island Recycling and Waste Centres. 

Oil can be decanted on site and container taken home or disposed of in general waste bins.

Never pour engine oil down the drain, this can cause serious damage and injure marine life.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Ovens can be taken to all Council Recycling and Waste Centres free of charge. Do not place ovens in any kerbside bin.

See also Metal

Reuse tip: Some charity organisations may benefit from your unwanted, good quality paint.

General waste bin
Small amounts of solidified paint can go in your general waste bin. Paint can be solidified by adding materials such as kitty litter, sand or newspaper. Once dry, scrape this out onto old newspaper and place in your general waste bin. The empty paint tin should also be placed in your general waste bin.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Both residential and commercial paint and packaging can be taken to Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre or at other Paintback drop-off locations including Chandler Resource Recovery Centre. Other drop off facilities can only accept paint from non-local residents. There is a limit on the amount that will be accepted – maximum 100L per visit in containers of 20L or less. For further information on the types of paint accepted and how paint and packaging is recycled visit the Paintback website.

What's accepted: 

• Deck coatings and floor paints
• Interior and exterior architectural paint
• Packaging
• Primers
• Sealers
• Stains and shellacs
• Undercoats
• Varnishes and urethanes (single components)
• Wood coatings

Aerosol spray paint cans should be taken to Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre. See Safe disposal for hazardous waste for more information.

Reuse tip: Shredded paper can be donated to pet shops or used in a home composting system in small quantities.

Recycling bin
Most paper can be recycled in your yellow lid recycling bin. This includes newspaper, junk mail, brochures, office paper, wrapping paper, used notebooks, unbleached paper, glossy paper, magazines, envelopes (including window envelopes), phone books, greeting cards, coloured paper, paper bags and scrap paper. Shredded paper can be recycled if it’s boxed and sealed.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Note: paper recycled at a Recycling and Waste Centre is not shredded. 

General waste bin
Plastic padded envelopes, paper lined with plastic or wax, loose shredded paper, thermal receipt and thermal fax paper can’t be recycled.

General waste bin

Did you know the paper fibre within paper towels, tissues, tissue paper, and serviettes is too weak to be recycled? This is what makes them soft, and why the paper has reached the end of its recyclable life. You can reduce your household waste by choosing reusables to reduce your waste such as cloths, hankies, napkins and standard matte paper or paper bags for gift wrapping. 

Officeworks

General waste bin

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Petrol may be taken to the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.

Recycling bin
Clean pizza boxes (no food, some oil and grease on the cardboard is ok).

See Green waste (garden waste)

Search Recycle Mate for recycling drop-off points

General waste bin
Before disposing, try to make sure there is no soil or plant material still inside the pot, and that it is completely empty.

See Asbestos, fibre-cement sheeting and stone benchtops

Plastic bottles and containers

Recycling bin
Most plastic bottles and containers can be recycled in your yellow lid recycling bin. This includes items such as soft drink bottles (lids on), takeaway containers, berry punnets, ice cream and margarine containers, milk and juice bottles (lids on), yoghurt tubs, biscuit and sushi trays, detergent and shampoo/conditioner bottles. The basic rule is if it's a hard plastic packaging that contained food or other material from your kitchen, bathroom or laundry, then it can be recycled.

Re-usable plastic containers and re-usable plastic drink bottles
General waste bin
Plastic containers used for storage such as lunchboxes, Tupperware like containers can't be recycled. This is because a different type of plastic used to make them that can't be recycled in your kerbside recycling bin.

Soft plastics, plastic wrapping and plastic bags 
General waste bin
Search Recycle Mate for drop-off locations at local supermarkets

General waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre 
General waste disposal

General waste bin

Search Recycle Mate for drop off locations

General waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
General waste disposal 

General waste bin
Small plastic items such as straws and bread tags can't be recycled and should be disposed of in your waste bin.

Search Recycle Mate for soft plastic recycling locations and what you can take

General waste bin
Plastic sheeting, cellophane and soft plastic packets, wrappers and bags that can be scrunched into a ball can’t be recycled in your yellow-lid bin.

General waste bin
Break into smaller pieces and bag
Tip: Small pieces of polystyrene or beanbag filling should be placed in a bag before being placed in general waste bins.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Take large quantities to Recycling and Waste Centres for disposal free of charge for residents. Fees apply for commercial customers.

Recycling and Waste Centre

See Batteries

Rock, gravel and pebbles are not accepted in any kerbside bin or Recycling and Waste Centre.

Consider offering these to local buy, swap, sell or giveaway sites, engage a waste removal service or drop off at an alternative waste disposal site.

General waste bin

General waste bin

Full sandbags cannot be placed in your wheelie bins as they are too heavy to be lifted
Where possible, store in a dry place and keep for future storm and rain events

General waste bin
Spread the sand from the sandbags (whether it's absorbed storm water or not) out over your lawn and place the empty nylon bag in your general waste bin. 

See Metal

See Syringes

Search Recycle Mate for donation or recycling locations
Thongs/flip flops can be taken to the Recycling Station at IndigiScapes

General waste bin

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Residential only and limited to 10

Recycling and Waste Centre
Disposal as general waste

Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre
Spray paint cans should be taken to hazardous waste at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.

See Safe disposal for hazardous waste for more information.

Recycling bin
Steel items which have originally been used as packaging for food or drinks i.e. cans, jars, lids, caps etc.

Recycling and Waste Centre
Larger steel items can be recycled as scrap metal at all Recycling and Waste Centres

Recycling and Waste Centre
Stone benchtops containing silicone are treated as asbestos and are accepted at all Recycling and Waste Centres except Karragarra and Coochiemudlo Island. See Asbestos for disposal requirements. 

Recycling bin
Tip: Any black plastic padding in the punnet needs to in general waste.

See Polystyrene

The Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Regulations 2000 have specific requirements regarding the correct disposal of needles or other sharps. Penalties exist for people who do not dispose of sharps correctly. Under no circumstance can sharps be placed in your recycling or green waste bin.

General waste bin
If a person discards a sharp at a domestic premise (e.g. household), the sharp should be placed in a labelled, rigid-walled, puncture resistant container, such as an approved sharps container, before the container is securely closed or sealed. The container can then be disposed of in your general waste bin.

Recycling and Waste Centre
People who use needles/syringes such as diabetics can now dispose of containers (up to 2 litres) by using sharps bins installed at our Birkdale, Redland Bay and North Stradbroke Island Recycling and Waste Centres.

There are different requirements for people disposing of sharps at premises such as a doctor’s surgery or hospital. 

See Electronic waste (e-waste)

General waste bin

Donate to charity
If in a usable condition, consider donating to a local charity. Items that are not able to be donated such as old blankets, towels and sheets may be able to be donated to the animal shelter or recycled through a textile recycling service. See also Clothing.

Search Recycle Mate for options near you

General waste bin or Recycling and Waste Centre
Place unusable textiles in your general waste bin or take to a Recycling and Waste Centre for general waste disposal. 

See Hazardous waste

Recycling and Waste Centre
Treated timber
If your timber has a greenish tinge, it is most likely treated with a preservative. Both painted and treated timber cannot be recycled and should be taken to Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres.

Untreated timber
You can take your untreated timber (including timber framing, logs, stumps and large branches) to all Recycling and Waste Centres.

Commercial fees apply to commercial disposals
From 6 October 2026, residential fees apply at Birkdale and Redland Bay

Search Recycle Mate for donation and recycling locations 
Recycle toys at Big W stores

General waste bin
Ensure any batteries are removed and recycled separately through B-cycle drop-off points

See Cars

Recycling and Waste Centre
Remove any batteries prior to disposal and recycle at a B-cycle drop-off location

Do not dispose of vapes containing batteries in your kerbside bins

Search Recycle Mate for battery recycling or pharmacy locations
If you can remove a battery, take it to a B-cycle drop-off point and dispose of the vape with no battery in your kerbside bin.

Products that don't have an enclosed battery, such as cartridges, replacement pods and liquid nicotine can be placed in RUM (Return of Unwanted Medicine) bins at your local pharmacy. Please check with the pharmacy first.

IndigiScape's Recycling Station
Video tapes and cassette tapes can be taken to the Recycling Station at IndigiScapes for recycling. Household quantities only. 

General waste bin

Recycling and Waste Centre
White goods, such as fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers can be taken to any Recycling and Waste Centre for scrap metal recycling

See Timber

IndigiScape's Recycling Station