A-Z of waste and recycling

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Download the new Recycle Mate app (from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store) for a handy pocket guide on how to recycle right.

Download our Household Waste & Recycling - A Quick Guide for a handy printable version to keep at home.

Order a larger recycling bin if you need more room. Just a $32 establishment fee and no extra costs on your rates (fees applicable for 2023/24 financial year).

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Aerosol cans are made from steel or aluminium. This means that they can be melted down and turned into new products. By recycling your aerosol cans you are reducing the need to mine new raw materials, helping to reduce your impact on the environment. Aerosol cans are able to be remanufactured into food cans, pet food cans, tins, soft drink cans etc.

Aerosol cans – empty
Place the entire product (including lid and nozzle) in the recycle bin.

Aerosol cans – with product remaining
Aerosol cans with product remaining cannot be placed in either the general waste bin or the recycle bin. This is because aerosol cans are pressurised and can explode. Empty your everyday household aerosols and recycle them in your yellow-lidded recycle bin.

Spray paint can be taken to Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre (see ‘Hazardous Waste’). Contact Council if you are unsure how to empty your aerosol can for safe recycling.

Broken air conditioning units can be taken to any Recycling and Waste Centre free of charge. Council will then have the unit de-gassed and the metals recycled.

Aluminium cans may go straight in to your yellow-lid recycle bin. You don’t need to remove the ring pull.

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

Aluminium foil (clean)
Clean kitchen foil (that you purchase in a roll at the supermarket) and aluminium cake/pie trays can first be reused in your kitchen for another job. Simply scrunch it into a ball (nothing smaller than a small fist size) before being recycled in your yellow-lidded bin at home.

Aluminium foil (dirty)
If the dirty aluminium foil can be wiped or rinsed clean, you can then recycle it in your yellow-lidded recycle bin. If you are unable to clean the foil, then place it into your general waste bin.

Aluminium foil trays
Aluminium foil trays can be wiped or rinsed clean and then placed in your yellow-lidded recycle bin. If you are unable to clean the foil tray, then place it into your general waste bin.

Animal (carcasses)
For disposal of deceased household pets (residential), double-wrap in plastic and take to one of Council's Recycling and Waste Centres. Commercial disposal of household animals not accepted. For more information contact Redland City Council on (07) 3829 8999.

Animal (droppings)
Small quantities of animal droppings can be either composted or placed in a plastic (preferably compostable/biodegradable) bag in your general waste bin.

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). Therefore, all material must be double wrapped in 0.2mm thick low density polyethylene (LDPE) and fully sealed for it to be accepted at Birkdale Recycling and Waste Centre (residential, non-residential and commercial) and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre (residential only). See Council's Asbestos webpage for further information.

Any suspected asbestos, cement sheeting or fibro products not double wrapped will be rejected from Council’s facilities. Any quantity over 10 square metres (m2) must be transported by a licensed Asbestos transporter.

Residential, non-residential and commercial asbestos is also accepted at Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke, Macleay and Russell Island Recycling and Waste Centres. Residential disposal less than 10m2 or 175kg is free of charge with proof of residency and photo ID. Commercial and non-residential loads will be charged at the Asbestos disposal rate (see Redland City Council Fees).

See also Fibro

Ash should be bagged (when sufficiently cool) and disposed of in the general waste bin. Ash from untreated timber can also be placed in a compost bin in small quantities.

Band aids should be disposed of in your general waste bin.

All batteries contain hazardous substances are a fire hazard and should not be disposed of in any bin. Go to B-Cycle for household and lithium battery drop-off locations. Lithium 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. Battery World accept swollen lithium batteries.

For car batteries - see Cars

See EPIRBs

Old bicycles and bicycle parts should be used for spare parts where possible, otherwise these can be taken to any Recycling and Waste Centre for disposal or recycling as scrap metal. Bicycles in good working condition can be taken to Birkdale or Redland Bay and dropped off for RecycleWorld.

Books, including novels, magazines and textbooks can be donated to charity or placed into your yellow-lid recycle bin. Make sure any plastic covers or contact film is removed before recycling.

Can be recycled in your yellow-lid recycle bin - leave the lids on the container.

Bottles (plastic)
Empty plastic bottles can be recycled in your yellow-lid recycle bin. Place lids on bottles prior to placing them in the recycle bin as these can be recycled if left on. If lids are separated, they cannot be recycled. Squash bottles where possible to make more room in the recycling bin.

Bottles (glass)
Glass bottles and lids can be recycled in your yellow-lid recycle bin. Lids can remain on the glass bottles when disposing of in the recycle bin.

If you have any excess plastic or glass bottles you can take them to Birkdale, Redland Bay or North Stradbroke Island Recycling and Waste Centres free of charge for recycling. Alternatively, take accepted glass bottles to a Containers for Change drop off location.

Branches, leaves and prunings from the garden can be placed into a green waste bin (lime green lid). Alternatively, small amounts (bagged) can be disposed in the general waste bin. Organics and garden waste should never go into the yellow-lid recycle bin. Consider establishing a compost bin at home to manage larger amounts of garden waste.

Small boats / dingys less than 4m in length may be accepted at a Recyling and Waste Centre. Large boats greater than 4m in length cannot be accpeted.

Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres accept residential quantities of bricks and rubble.

Cardboard (except waxed cardboard) can be recycled in your yellow-lid recycle bin. This includes items such as cardboard boxes, pizza and cereal boxes, cardboard from empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls, detergent boxes and tissue boxes. Bulky or excess cardboard can be taken to one of Council's Recycling and Waste Centres (except Karragarra and Lamb Island) and is free of charge for residents, non-residents and commercial operators.

Cardboard (waxed)
Waxed cardboard e.g. produce (fruit and veg) boxes cannot be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycle bin and should be disposed of in your general waste bin. Alternatively, waxed cardboard can be cut into small pieces and added to a compost bin.

This can be taken to any Council Recycling and Waste Centre for disposal.

Car batteries
Car batteries contain toxic and harmful chemicals. They also contain resources that can be recycled, such as lead. You can take your car batteries to Birkdale, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island, Macleay Island, Russell Island or Coochiemudlo Island Recycling and Waste Centres.

Car bodies
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 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.

Car oil
Car oil can be recycled, but not in any kerbside bin. This causes contamination and leads to the loss of valuable resources. You can recycle your waste motor oil (to a maximum of 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. Never pour engine oil down the drain, this can cause serious damage and injure marine life.

Car parts
Metallic car parts can be taken to all Council Recycling and Waste Centres.

Car tyres

Car tyres can be recycled at Birkdale, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island, Macleay Island or Russell Island Recycling and Waste Centres. If you are a resident, there is 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/4X4 size, the additional tyre/s and larger tyres will be charged at the commercial rate.

There are now a number of locations in the Redlands Coast where you can take your cartridges for recycling.

Small volumes of cassette tapes (and video tapes) can be taken to IndigiScapes for recycling through the Recycling Station. The outer casing can be recycled in your yellow-lid bin, however the ribbon is not recyclable through the kerbside system and should go in your waste bin.

CDs/DVDs, CD/DVD covers and cases can be taken to IndigiScapes for recycling through the Recycling Station. CDs/DVDs in good condition can be taken to RecycleWorld for reuse. Alternatively, you can give them to a secondhand/charity store. Broken or damaged CDs and CD/DVD cases can be placed in your general waste bin as they cannot be recycled.

See Plastics

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

Broken ceramics can’t be recycled. Place this into your general waste bin for disposal, or reuse as an art and craft material. If you have intact ceramics you can opt to take these items to RecycleWorld. Alternatively, you can give them to a secondhand/charity store.

For Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), these are classified as hazardous waste, and can be disposed of at the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre. Fluorescent lamps/tubes can also be taken to IKEA and Officeworks for recycling.

Metal or plastic drums that have previously contained chemicals must be taken to Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre. Please contact Redland City Council to arrange an inspection and disposal time on (07) 3829 8999. Drums must be triple rinsed and dried.

Depending on the type of chemical, these may be taken to the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.

These should be placed into your general waste bin.

Clean soil is regarded as soil that that does not contain any rocks, concrete, green waste, sticks or other contaminants. Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres accept small residential quantities (less than 1m3) of good clean soil free of charge with proof of residency. Any soil containing rocks or other ground material must be separated out and hand unloaded into the general waste bins. For pool digs and commercial excavation refer to Fill Wanted.

See Plastics

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 Centres. There are also a number of other charity clothing bins located throughout the Redlands.

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.

Clothes – poor condition
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.

Coffee cups (single-use, disposable)
Coffee cups are mostly made from a composite or compostable material that cannot be recycled. Consider using a reusable ceramic mug or travel mug instead. The plastic covers/lids can be disposed of in your recycle bin.

Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds can be added to a worm farm or compost bin, or alternatively, bagged and placed into your general waste bin. Used tea bags can also be treated in this way.

Coffee pods
Coffee pods used in pod machines cannot be recycled as a whole in the yellow-lid recycle bin. Generally, the pods are made from either plastic or aluminium. Depending on the type of pod, these can be recycled through various recycling programs. If you would like to recycle part of the coffee pod, remove the top off the pod, compost the coffee grounds and recycle the plastic pod container.

Packaging that is labelled 'compostable' including coffee cups, magazine wraps, takeaway packaging, cutlery and compostable bags cannot be recycled in yellow-lid recycling bins or green waste bins. As such, these will need to be placed into general waste bins.

Please consider diverting your e-waste through organisations such as Freecycle.

Council offers an e-waste recycling service for residents and small businesses. E-waste, including computers and computer parts, can be taken to Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres for recycling.

Only residential amounts (small trailer load) of concrete can be taken to Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres.

‘Contamination’ refers to material that is put in the wrong bin. For more information on what is accepted in your kerbside bins, download the Household Waste & Recycling Quick Guide.

Cooking oil (as well as vegetable 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. If you are unable to dispose of it at a Recycling and Waste Centre, you can pour the oil into a glass container with a lid and place it in your waste bin.

Corks can be reused for craft purposes, as garden mulch or placed in a compost bin . If you are unable to reuse your corks, you may put them in your general waste bin.

See Chemical drums (empty), drumMUSTER

This can be added to a worm farm or compost bin, or alternatively, bagged and placed into your general waste bin.

DVDs/CDs and DVD/CD covers and cases can be taken to IndigiScapes for recycling through the Recycling Station can be taken to IndigiScapes for recycling through the Recycling Station. Broken or damaged DVDs as well as DVD cases can be placed in your general waste bin as they cannot be recycled. Those in good condition can be taken to RecycleWorld for reuse. Alternatively, you can give them to a secondhand/charity store.

Refer to Motorhome Dump Points Australia.

See Council's E-waste page.

Most kinds of envelopes are able to be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycle bin. This includes envelopes with plastic windows, however does not include padded envelopes (plastic padding is not recyclable).

EPIRBs 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. EPIRBs must be taken to your nearest battery store for disposal. Refer to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for more information.

These cannot be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycle bin and should go into your general waste bin. Alternatively, 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. See Recycling Near You for further information.

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

Fibreglass insulation can be disposed at any Recycling and Waste Centre.

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

Only residential fire extinguishers can be dropped off at the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.

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

Flares can be disposed of in special bins provided by the Queensland Department of Transport at Volunteer Marine Rescue (weekends only), Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and Queensland Transport Maritime Safety Queensland. A locations list can be found on the Flare disposal locations page on the Maritime Safety Queensland website. See below for disposal locations around the Redlands.

Some lights such as CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and should not be placed into any household bins. Bulbs and tubes containing hazardous material such as mercury can be taken to the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.

Other non-hazardous bulbs, including the old incandescent type can be wrapped in paper and disposed of in your general waste bin.

Light bulbs and tubes should never be put into your yellow-lidded recycle bin - glass cannot be recycled as it can contaminate the contents of your recycle bin.

The bulk of what makes up residential waste is food scraps and garden waste. Food waste contributes to the production of methane in landfill, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Food waste can be disposed of in the general waste bin. Alternatively, consider setting up a worm farm, compost bin or bokashi bucket and turn your food waste (and garden waste) into a nutrient-rich compost or liquid fertilizer.

Depending on the condition of the item, it may be accepted at RecycleWorld or at a reuse centre. White goods, including fridges, can be taken to any mainland or island Recycling and Waste Centre for recycling of the scrap metal.

BBQ gas bottles/cylinders 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.

All other gas bottles including LPG tanks should be returned to the supplier.

Glass that has been purchased containing either food or drink is recyclable in our current system.

Glass jars and bottles
These can be reused before being recycled in your yellow-lidded recycle bin. Leave the lids on the container and place in your recycle bin.

Glassware (glass other than bottles and jars)
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). These items need to go into your general waste bin. If they are large panes of glass, they can be taken to Council Recycling and Waste Centres as mixed waste and free of charge for residents and should not be disposed of in large quantities in your general waste bin. Commercial fees apply for commercial disposals.

If glue has been cured (is fully dry), it can be placed into your general waste bin, otherwise it can be dropped off at the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.

Grass clippings should placed loose in dedicated green waste bin (lime green lid) or alternatively bagged and placed in general waste bins. Do not blow grass clippings onto the street as 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.

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.

Residents with a dedicated green waste bin (lime green lid) can dispose of their green/garden waste in this bin or it can be taken to a Council Recycling and Waste Centre. Green waste is diverted from landfill through Council’s Recycling and Waste Centre collection points. It is then taken to a recycling facility where it is then turned into a high quality mulch or converted into clean, green electricity.

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

See Council's Hazardous Waste page.

These can be bagged and placed into your general waste bin after they have cooled.

Just about any household appliance with a power cord can be taken to a waste facility where it is collected and recycled into a new product. You should not put household appliances in any of your wheelie bins.

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 recycle bin.

If a person discards a sharp at a domestic premise (e.g. household), the sharps should be placed in a ridged walled, puncture resistant container (e.g. approved sharps container) before securely closing or sealing the container. The container can then be disposed of in your general waste bin. 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.

Council also provides sharps containers throughout the Redlands for single syringe disposal.

See Cartridges (printer/toner)

You can recycle your juice cartons and other tetra-pack containers (including poppers) in your yellow-lidded recycle bin.

Paper and cardboard junk mail can be recycled, but not the plastic wrap it comes in. Be sure not to include plastic wrap in your yellow-lidded recycle bin.

This should be bagged and placed into your general waste bin.

See Grass clippings

For Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), these are classified as hazardous waste, and should be disposed of at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre as hazardous waste.

Old incandescent bulbs do not contain hazardous material such as mercury, and can be wrapped in paper and disposed of in your general waste bin. Any broken or intact bulb should always be wrapped in paper before placing in your general waste bin.

Regular light bulbs and low energy light bulbs (e.g. CFLs) can also be taken to IKEA for recycling.

A range of recycling programs for mercury-containing globes such as fluorescents and compact fluoros, HIDs and metal halides are run by state or local authorities, community partnerships and commercial recyclers (see Recycling Near You for further information).

See Paper

Old mattresses can be disposed of at any Recycling and Waste Centre.

You can take your out-of-date and left over/unwanted medicines to any pharmacy in Australia. All pharmacies are equipped to accept all medicines. The blister packs that most tablets come in are unable to be recycled and should be placed in your waste bin.

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

Household metal items such as vegetable and food cans, pet food cans, soft drink cans, paint tins (must be completely clean and not contain any paint, either wet or dry), pie trays, empty aerosol cans and aluminium foil can all be placed in the yellow-lidded recycle bin.

You can recycle your milk cartons in your yellow-lidded recycle bin. Plastic milk bottles are also able to be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycle bin. There is no need to remove the lid or ring before placing in your recycle bin.

Broken mirrors should be wrapped and placed into your general waste bin or taken to any Recycling and Waste Centre for disposal. Consider donating intact mirrors to a charity organisation.

Mobile phones and mobile batteries cannot be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycle bin.

You can simply drop them off at a MobileMuster collection point, post them in using a free recycling satchel from Australia Post, or request a free reply paid label from the MobileMuster website.

If your mobile is still working and you would like it to be reused, you could have 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.

See Cars

Motor oil containers can be recycled at Birkdale and Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centres for free. Do not place them in your household yellow-lidded recycle bin as the oil residue in oil containers can contaminate the load.

You cannot recycle any kind of nappy, used or unused. All nappies need to be placed in your general waste bin.

See Hypodermic needles

See Paper

Oil – car
See Car

Oil – cooking or vegetable
Cooking/vegetable oil 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. 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.

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

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