Other options for household waste

Available at Council+ locations only (libraries, civic centre). Not available at community centres.

 We will take:

• AA batteries
• AAA batteries 
• C batteries
• D batteries 
• 9V batteries 
• Button cell batteries 
• Both rechargeable and non-rechargeable accepted 

Please remember to tape the terminals on your batteries to reduce risk of fire. 

We won't take: 

• Large battery sizes not listed above 
• Car batteries 
• Swollen batteries 
• Vapes (these can normally be recycled in the vape bins at Altona and Newport libraries. However, the program is temporarily closed. Please refer to the vapes section for further updates.)

Search the Planet Ark: Recycling Near You tool for alternative drop-off locations. 

What happens to the batteries? 

Plastics and precious metals are separated and used in the production of new items. 

Recycling partner: Eco Cycle 

We will take:

• Empty plastic and aluminium blister packs
• Empty paper and aluminium blister packs 
  
  

We won't take: 

• Blister packs with medication inside 
• Other forms of medication packaging, including glass and plastic bottles 

Take your expired or unused medication to your local pharmacy for disposal. 

What happens to the blister packs? 

Plastics, papers and aluminium are separated. 

Plastic is repurposed into fencing and decking. 

Aluminium is used in the steel making process. 

Recycling partner: PharmaCycle

We will take:

• Plastic bread tags

Not sure what it's made of? Fold the tag in half - cardboard will tear or bend, plastic will snap. 

We won't take: 

• Paper bread tags 
• Other bread packaging 
• Wire twist ties 
• Other small plastic items 

What happens to the bread tags? 

Volunteers sort the tags into colours. 

They are then melted down and used to make plastic products. 

These products are sold to fundraise for wheelchair users. 

Recycling partner: Bread Tags for Wheelchairs 

We will take:

• DVDs
• CDs
• Blue-ray discs
• Computer discs
• Gaming console discs

What happens to the CDs/DVDs? 

Plastic is processed and used to produce plastic products for vehicle manufacturing.

Recycling partner: Green Collect 

We will take:

• Small electronic items 
• Phones 
• Smart watches 
• Cameras
• Radios
• Chargers
• Toys
• Tools
• Electrical accessories 

Protect your privacy! Make sure all personal information is cleared from devices before recycling.
If batteries can be removed, please place them in the battery bin first. 

We won't take: 

• Large electronic items that do not fit in the cabinet

Did you know we have two e-waste drop-off days a year for larger items? Check What's on or keep an eye on our social media pages for updates on future events. 

What happens to the e-waste? 

Items which can be repaired are refurbished and sold. 

Other items are broken down into components, with the recovered material sent for recycling.  

Recycling partner: Green Collect

Available at libraries only. Not available at community centres.

We will take:

• Reading glasses
• Sun glasses  
• Empty glasses frames 

We won't take: 

• Contact lenses or cases 

What happens to the glasses? 

Glasses which can be reused are prepared and provided to Vision Australia.

Recycling partners: Green Collect and Lions Club

We will take:

• Fluorescent bulbs
• Incandescent bulbs
• Down lights 
• Mercury lamps 
• Sodium vapour lamps 

We won't take: 

• Light globes larger than the collection cabinet 
• commercial quantities*  

What happens to the light globes? 

Metal is recycled.

Glass is used to make glass wool insulation. 

Mercury is used to manufacture dental amalgam. 

Phosphor powder is recycled into new fluorescent powder. 

Recycling partner: Green Collect

*Recycling Made Easy is a residential service. If you are a construction or lighting business with regular light globe recycling needs, please reach out to Green Collect or another recycling company.

We will take:

• Inkjet cartridges (used and unused)
• Laser cartridges (used and unused)
• Toner bottles 
• Fuser and drum units 
• Print heads 
• Waste hoppers 

We won't take:

• Artist's inks or paints 
• Printers 

What happens to the printer cartridges? 

Unused cartridges are prepared for resale. 

Used cartridges are recycled into pen casings and asphalt additives. 

Recycling partner: Green Collect

We will take:

• Pens
• Markers
• Ring binders
• Folders
• Any small plastic or metal stationery item 

We won't take: 

• Electronic stationery items (use the e-waste slot instead!)
• Large stationery items 
• Commercial quantities*  

What happens to the stationery? 

Reusable items are prepared for resale. 

Metals and plastics are shredded and granulated to be repurposed into new products. 

Cardboard from binders is recycled into new notebooks and sold in Green Collect stores. 

Recycling partner: Green Collect

*Recycling Made Easy is a residential service. If you have commercial quantities of stationery which exceed the capacity of our recycling cabinets, please reach out to Green Collect or another recycling company

Vape disposal bins now available!

Vape disposal bins at Newport Community Hub and Altona Library are now back in service.

Thank you for your patience while we installed new locks to ensure the safety of our community and staff. You can now safely drop off your vapes at both locations as usual.

Available at Altona and Newport Libraries only.

We will take:

• Disposable vapes and e-cigarettes (used and unused)
• Rechargeable vapes and e-cigarettes (used and unused)

We won't take: 

• Chargers (these can be placed in the e-waste slot instead)
• Vape packaging 

What happens to the vapes? 

E-liquid is safely destroyed. 

Precious metals are separated and extracted. 

Leftover plastics are recycled where possible. 

Recycling partner: Eco Cycle

We will take:

• All x-rays 

Protect your privacy! Remove all identifying information from x-rays before recycling. 

We won't take: 

• Commercial quantities*

What happens to the x-rays? 

Silver is extracted and reused in jewellery, utensils and film manufacturing.

Recycling partner: Green Collect

*Recycling Made Easy is a residential service. If you are a medical business requiring regular x-ray recycling, please reach out to Green Collect or another recycling provider.

Unfortunately, our oral care recycling partners have closed this program. 

Please see the Colgate & Terracycle Oral Care Recycling Program webpage for updates

While we work to find an alternative, drop-off will not be available for oral care products. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. 

Important info: 

• All other Recycling Made Easy categories will continue as usual
• Oral care products cannot be recycled in your mixed recycling (yellow lidded) bin at home

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is a Victorian Government initiative that provides a 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned.

The program aims to reduce litter that ends up in our streets, beaches, waterways and parks. Eligible containers are those typically consumed 'on the go' while containers with contents that are normally consumed at home, are excluded (but can still be accepted in your home recycling bins). 

You can search for your closest refund point on the interactive map at www.cdsvic.org.au

A list of zones by local government area can also be found at the VicReturn website www.vicreturn.com.au.

Please note: Introduction of the CDS Vic has no impact on the way you can use your recycling bins at home. You may choose to take eligible containers to a refund point, but there is no obligation to do so. 

The scheme started across Victoria from 1 November 2023. 

Sustainability Victoria's 2025-2026 Detox Your Home program is to be confirmed. 

For more information, see Sustainability Victoria's hazardous household chemicals webpage. 

For tips on reducing your household chemical use, visit choosing safer, non-toxic household chemicals.

Composting is a great way to reduce household waste, nourish your soil and create circularity in the home. 

You don't need a lot of space to compost - there are options for small gardens, apartment balconies, and even benchtops! 

To get started and learn more, visit Composting at Home – My Smart Garden. 

We hold drop-off days each year for residents, where we take items that are hard-to-recycle or cannot be placed in any Council bin. 

These drop-off days can include: 

• E-waste, batteries and vapes 
• Soft plastics 
• Hazardous chemicals (in partnership with Sustainability Victoria's 'Detox Your Home' program) 
• Christmas trees 

Sign up for our Living Green eNews to be notified of upcoming dates.

Still not sure what to do with your item? Try searching the Planet Ark: Recycling Near You tool to find alternatives.  

Paint cannot go in your council bins. You can dispose of paint via the Paintback scheme, which has a number of drop-off points including: 

• Port Phillip Resource Recovery Centre: 78 White Street, South Melbourne
• Moonee Valley Transfer Station: 118 Holmes Road, Aberfeldie 
• Brimbank Resource Recovery Centre Stadium Drive, Keilor Park 
  
  Find your closest drop-off location

Check with the drop-off location beforehand to confirm fees and ensure they can accept your paint. 

Why not try to repair your items before disposing of them?

If you aren't able to repair an item yourself, try visiting an alterations or repair shop, joining a local hobby group to learn a new skill, attending a workshop or visiting  Altona Repair Cafe for assistance.

Some recycling facilities and transfer stations accept drop-offs from the community. Items which may be accepted at transfer stations are timber, green waste, cardboard, metal and mattresses.

Contact each facility directly to enquire about fees and confirm they will accept your material. 

• Wyndham City Council refuse disposal facility

  Address: 470 Wests Road, Werribee 3030
  Phone: 03 9742 0777

• Moonee Valley Transfer Station

  Address: 188 Holmes Road, Aberfeldie 3040
  Phone: 03 8325 1730 

• Brimbank Resource Recovery Centre 

  Address: Stadium Drive, Keilor Park, 3042
  Phone: 03 9249 4000 

•  Brooklyn Transfer Station

  Address: 174 Old Geelong Road, Brooklyn 3012
  Phone: 03 8391 1480 

• Altona North Landfill

  Address: 55 McArthurs Rd, Altona North 3025
  Phone: 03 9399 2668