Waste FAQs

Frequently asked questions about waste reduction

Recycling household items is not always straightforward. Below, we've compiled answers to many of the questions residents ask us on recycling.

Can I recycle pizza boxes?

A pizza box is mainly cardboard and if it's not full of oil spots and remaining food, then you can recycle it.

Can I recycle plastic bags?

Plastic bags are only recyclable through a special process. So if you would like to recycle these bags, you need to bring these bags, emptied and dried, to the Randwick Recycling Centre at 72 Perry Street, Matraville, or to your closest Coles supermarket.

Can I recycle large cardboard boxes?

Large cardboard boxes are fully recyclable but take up too much space in bins. Flatten and tear up boxes and place in the yellow-lid bin.

Can I recycle pringles cans?

Pringles cans are made from what is called composite packaging. This means that the can is made from a 'sandwich' of different materials e.g. a layer of aluminium internally, with a layer of cardboard externally. This type of packaging is hard to recycle and has to be disposed of in your red-lid bin. The lid though is made of plastic and can be recycled in your yellow-lid bin.

Does Randwick council recycle LDPE plastics (#4) or do I have to throw them in the rubbish?

Randwick Council accepts LDPE plastic packaging for recycling through the yellow-lid recycling bin. However, plastic bags cannot be accepted in the yellow-lid recycling bin (some are made from LDPE). Generally, if it's a plastic container that's been used in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry, it can go in the yellow-lid recycling bin.

What can I do with old batteries, size AA or C and D? I don't want to put them in the rubbish bin.

If you are a Randwick Council resident, you can disposed of your old AA, C or D batteries in Council's administration building at 30, Frances Street where boxes are provided for battery recycling.

Can used tissues be recycled or composted?

Dirty tissues should not be placed in the yellow lid recycling bin. They can be placed in the worm farm or compost bin without any issues.

Can you recycle Easter Egg wrappers?

In Randwick Council we will not accept Easter Egg wrappers as they are likely to be contaminated with chocolate and also too small to process at the recycling processing plant.

Where can we dispose of electronic waste, e.g. a printer?

You can bring your computers, televisions, printers and fax machines to Council's Recycling Centre, 72 Perry St Matraville for recycling.

Is there anywhere in the Eastern Suburbs that I can take empty plant pots?

Small plastic pot plants can be recycled through the household recycling bin, but only if they meet all the criteria below:
-no bigger than 4L capacity (large ice cream container)
-clean of any soil or plants
-made from a single piece of moulded plastic
-not have any accessories attached (e.g. strings or chains of any type)
Any other types of plastic pot plants and plastic plants are considered contamination in the recycling stream.

Can I recycle this?

Item

Can it be recycled?

Pizza boxes

A pizza box is mainly cardboard and if it's not full of oil spots and remaining food, then you can recycle it.

Plastic bags

Plastic bags are only recyclable through a special process. So if you would like to recycle these bags, you need to bring these bags, emptied and dried, to the Randwick Recycling Centre at 72 Perry Street, Matraville, or to your closest Coles supermarket.

Large cardboard boxes

Large cardboard boxes are fully recyclable but take up too much space in bins. Flatten and tear up boxes and place in the yellow-lid bin.

Pringles cans

Pringles cans are made from what is called composite packaging. This means that the can is made from a 'sandwich' of different materials e.g. a layer of aluminium internally, with a layer of cardboard externally. This type of packaging is hard to recycle and has to be disposed of in your red-lid bin. The lid though is made of plastic and can be recycled in your yellow-lid bin.

LDPE Plastics (#4)

Randwick Council accepts LDPE plastic packaging for recycling through the yellow-lid recycling bin. However, plastic bags cannot be accepted in the yellow-lid recycling bin (some are made from LDPE). Generally, if it's a plastic container that's been used in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry, it can go in the yellow-lid recycling bin.

Used tissues

Dirty tissues should not be placed in the yellow lid recycling bin. They can be placed in the worm farm or compost bin without any issues.

Easter egg wrappers

In Randwick City Council, we will not accept Easter egg wrappers as they are likely to be contaminated with chocolate and also too small to process at the recycling processing plant.

Coffee cups

Plastic lids on takeaway coffee cups can be recycled if they are clean through the yellow lid recycling bin. If coffee cups have a thick waxed lining, they cannot be recycled in the yellow lid recycling bin and will be considered contamination.

Aluminium foil

Aluminium foil can be recycled in the yellow lid recycling bin if the foil is free of food particles and is scrunched up into a cricket-size ball.

Where Can I take this?

Item

Take it to...

Old batteries - size AA, C or D

If you are a Randwick Council resident, you can take your old AA, C or D batteries to Council's Administration building at 30, Frances Street, Randwick where boxes are provided for battery recycling.

Electronic waste

You can bring your computers, televisions, printers and fax machines to Council's Recycling Centre, 72 Perry Street, Matraville for recycling.

Empty plastic plant pots

Small plastic pot plants can be recycled through the household recycling bin, but only if they meet all the criteria below:

  • no bigger than 4L capacity (large ice cream container)
  • clean – no soil or plant material
  • made from a single piece of moulded plastic
  • does not have any accessories attached (e.g. strings or chains of any type).

Any other types of plastic pot plants and plastic plants are considered contamination in the recycling stream.

Last Updated: 2 March 2022
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