Plastic Recycling Information

Not all plastics can be recycled the same way. Some can be placed in your yellow recycling bin, while others must be taken to specialised recyclers or drop off locations to ensure they are processed correctly.

See below to find out which plastics go where and how to recycle them correctly.

What plastic can you recycle in your yellow bin?

You can recycle most hard plastic items from your kitchen, bathroom or laundry in your yellow bin.

Hard plastic items are plastics that hold their shape and don’t scrunch or stretch easily. Hard plastic items that can go in your yellow bin include:

  • Milk, soft drink, and juice bottles
  • Shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap bottles
  • Detergent bottles
  • Ice cream containers
  • Fruit punnets
  • Biscuit trays
  • Plastic takeaway food containers
  • Margarine, butter, and yoghurt tubs
  • Plastic jars

Do not place recyclables inside a plastic bag or place plastic bags in the recycling bin.

For more information about what you can and can’t recycle in your yellow bin, click here.

What plastic can’t you recycle in your yellow bin? 

The following items can’t go in your yellow bin:

  • Soft plastics
  • Polystyrene
  • Bioplastics or compostable packaging
  • Plastic pipes
  • Garden hoses
  • Kid’s toys

For more information about what you can and can’t recycle in your yellow bin, click here.

What is the NSW Government doing about single-use plastics?

The NSW Government has introduced bans on certain single-use plastic items to reduce litter, protect the environment, and support a more circular economy. These bans are part of a broader state-wide approach outlined in the NSW Plastics Plan 2.0, led by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

Banned items include:

  • Single-use plastic straws and cutlery
  • Lightweight plastic shopping bags
  • Single-use plastic plates and bowls
  • Expanded polystyrene food ware
  • Plastic drink stirrers
  • Plastic cotton buds
  • Plastic microbeads
  • Expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service items
  • Machine-integrated plastics

 

To learn more about the bans including exemptions and information for business, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/plastics

Frequently Asked Questions

What are soft plastics?

Soft plastics are plastics which can easily be scrunched into a ball, such as plastic bags, bread bags, cling wrap, pasta packets, chip packets, and lolly wrappers. These plastics are difficult to recycle and cannot be placed in your yellow bin. 

What can you do with soft plastics?

Keep soft plastics out of your yellow bin. Soft plastics are a serious problem when you put them in your recycling bin. Our kerbside recycling is taken to VISY. At VISY’s material recovery facility, soft plastics wrap around machinery, causing blockages, shutdowns, safety risks, and reducing time available to sort valuable recyclables.

They can be placed in your red bin for disposal.

You can also recycle soft plastics at our E-Waste PLUS Drop-Off Event. For more information about our E-Waste PLUS Drop-Off Event, click here.

Some supermarkets offer collection points. Woolworths is currently running a soft plastics recycling trial at local stores including Baulkham Hills, Dural, Glenorie, Kellyville, Kellyville North, and Rouse Hill. For more information and the full list of participating stores, please visit Woolworths Soft Plastics Recycling Locations Page

How to recycle items that can't be recycled in your yellow bin?

There are many helpful websites to help you recycle plastics. Websites such as Recycling Near You and Recycle Mate are two examples. They provide quick advice on whether you can recycle certain plastics and other unwanted items.

What is the Australasian Recycling Label?

The Australasian Recycling Label provides instructions on how to dispose of a product's packaging. Sometimes different parts of packaging need to be placed into different bins. Components may be recycled via alternative methods.

Australasian Recycling Label LARGE.jpg

 

Keep an eye out for the label next time you dispose of your household packaging.

You can learn more about the label by visiting Recyclingnearyou.com.au

Can you use the chasing arrows recycling symbol (mobius loop) to decide what plastic to recylce in your yellow bin?

No, the mobius loop does not confirm if an item can go in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Mobius Loop (1).png

 

The recycling symbol or 'mobius loop' consists of three twisted chasing arrows in a triangle.  The mobius loop indicates that an object is recyclable. However, the object may not be acceptable in all recycling collection systems. It does not confirm if an item can go in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. 

To find out what can be recycled in your household recycling bin click here. Alternatively, keep a look out for the Australasian Recycling Label on your packaging.

Can you use the plastic coding system to decide what plastic you can recycle in your yellow bin?

No, the plastic coding system does not specify that the product may go in your yellow bin. The coding system exists to help plastic manufacturers and recyclers identify the type of plastics used to make the item. It does not confirm if an item can go in the yellow-lidded bin.

Plastic Coding System (2).png

 

To find out what can be recycled in your household recycling bin click here. Alternatively, keep a look out for the Australasian Recycling Label on your packaging.

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