Plastic Recycling Information
You can recycle hard plastic items from the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry (like containers, tubs, bottles, and jars) in the yellow bin. Check what can and can't be recycled in your bin here..
Please note that soft plastics like plastic bags and bread bags cannot be recycled in your yellow lidded recycling bin. It is important not to place recyclables inside a plastic bag or place plastic bags in the recycling bin. Soft plastics may be placed in the red lidded garbage bin for disposal.
Keep soft plastics out of the yellow lid bin
- Don't place soft plastics like plastic bags and bread bags in the yellow bin.
- Keep your recyclables out of plastic bags- place them loosely in the yellow lid bin.
- Put soft plastics in the red lid bin for disposal.
NSW Single-Use Plastics Ban
Did you know the NSW Government banned certain single-use plastics from 2022? To find out more view Waste Strategy information here.
Banned from 1 June:
- Lightweight plastic shopping bags.
Banned from 1 November:
- Single-use plastic straws and cutlery.
- Single-use plastic plates and bowls.
- Expanded polystyrene foodware.
To learn more about the bans including exemptions and information for business, visit www.epa.nsw.gov.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are soft plastics?
Soft plastics are plastics which can easily be scrunched into a ball. They include plastic bags, bread bags, pasta packets, chip packets and lolly wrappers. These plastics are difficult to recycle and cannot be placed in your yellow lidded recycling bin.
What do I do with soft plastics?
You must place soft plastics in your red lid garbage bin. They are not recyclable via your yellow recycling bin. You can also save them and bring them to the E-Waste + Event. For more information about the event, click here.
What plastics CAN go in the yellow lidded recycling bins?
Most hard plastics found in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry can go into your yellow lid bin.
Hard plastics that can go in your yellow bin include:
- Milk, soft drink, and juice bottlesIce cream containers
- Peanut butter jars
- Fruit punnets
- Biscuit trays
- Plastic takeaway food containers
- Margarine and yogurt tubs
- Laundry liquid containers
- Shampoo bottles and liquid soap bottles.
For more information on what can be recycled in your household yellow lid recycling bin click here.
What plastics CAN'T go in the yellow lidded recycling bins?
Apart from hard plastics, the following can't go into your yellow bin:
- Soft plastics
- Polystyrene
- Bioplastics or compostable plastic packaging
- Plastic pipes
- Garden hoses
- Kids’ toys
Click here to learn more about what items can’t be recycled through your yellow lid bin.
How do I recycle plastics that can't be recycled in my yellow lidded recycling 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 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.
Keep an eye out for the label next time you dispose of your household packaging. You can learn more about the label by visiting the Planet Ark website here.
Can I use the chasing arrows recycling symbol (mobius loop) to decide what plastic I can recycle?
No, the mobius loop does not confirm if an item can go in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.
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 I use the plastic coding system to decide what plastic I can recycle?
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.
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.