Your waste and recycling guide

Find out how to dispose of your unwanted stuff... Search or browse by what you'd like to get rid of.

Metal

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin. Make sure can is empty first. 


Otherwise:

Aerosol cans that still contain product can be recycled through free Detox Your Home events, which are offered by Sustainability Victoria.  

To get advance warning of the next local event, subscribe to the Rethink Your Rubbish e-news. 



Best option for disposal:

Barbeques that are mostly made of metal can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

Otherwise:

Barbeques are one of the household waste items residents are able to have picked up from their property.
For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page

If your barbeque still has gas or fuel, find out how to safely disposal of hazardous waste.



Best option for disposal:

Drop off barbecue gas bottles (up to 9kg) for free at the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres.

Do not place BBQ gas bottles in your kerbside wheelie bins, even if the bottles are empty. 


Otherwise:

Contact the retailer who you purchased your BBQ bottle from. Most brands will take back empty or damaged bottles. 



Best option for disposal:

Can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery centres.


Otherwise:

Local community groups such as neighbourhood houses and sheds often have bicycle repair programs. Even if your bike is beyond repair, they may appreciate the parts. 



Best option for disposal:

Place in the red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Terracycle offer a paid recycling service for binders and other hard to recycle stationery and office supplies. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Biscuit tins and other scrap metal can be dropped off free of charge at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

Best option for disposal:

Broken: Drop off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

Blenders, including stick blenders, are e-waste. In Victoria it is against the law to place e-waste in kerbside collection bins.


Otherwise:

Working: If the air fryer is still in good condition, contact your local op shop and ask whether they will accept it or try selling it through an online marketplace. 



Best option for disposal:

Take to Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres for disposal, fees apply.

Otherwise:

Blinds are one of the household waste items residents may be able to have picked up from their property. Maximum width is 1.5m.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page



Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

While ties contain metal, they are too small to be sorted properly in your kerbside recycling and may jam the machinery. 


Otherwise:

Keep ties to use around the house. For example, if you like to make your own holiday season decorations, bread bag wire ties can be reused to help fix them to trees or door handles. 

Best option for disposal:

Bread Makers are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

CD players are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Can be dropped off at the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre at no cost.



Best option for disposal:

Damaged or poor quality: place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place in your recycling bin, they cause jamming issues at recycling facilities.


Otherwise:

Good condition and quality: can be donated to selected opportunity and voluntary shops.

Best option for disposal:

Broken: Coffee machines are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 


Otherwise:

Working: If the air fryer is still in good condition, contact your local op shop and ask whether they will accept it or try selling it through an online marketplace. 



Best option for disposal:

Place empty deodorant cans in your yellow lid recycling bin.



Best option for disposal:

Placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Rinse or scrape clean first.

 


Otherwise:

Unopened cans of cat food can be donated to Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS).

GAWS accept a wide range of pet related items; you can find out more here.  



Best option for disposal:

Broken: Electric fans are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 


Otherwise:

Working: If the electric fan is still in good condition, contact your local op shop and ask whether they will accept it or try selling or giving it away through an online marketplace. 

Best option for disposal:

Electric heaters are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Drop off for free at the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres.



Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. Drop off in the metal bin at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery centres.


Otherwise:

Drop off for free in the metal bin at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery centres. It doesn't matter if the handle is plastic.

Best option for disposal:

Hairdryers are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Place empty hairspray aerosol cans in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Best option for disposal:

Hand food mixers classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Drop off for free at either the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centre.


Otherwise:

Residents may be eligible to have bulky household waste items picked up from their property as part of their rates payment.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Empty insect aerosol cans can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin.



Best option for disposal:

Keys made of metal only can be disposed of for free in the metal bin at Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres. 


Otherwise:

Electronic keys should be placed in the e-waste collection at Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres. 



Best option for disposal:

Large household appliances like fridges and freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers and dishwashers and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 


Otherwise:

Residents may be eligible to have bulky household waste items picked up from their property as part of their rates payment.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Lawn mowers and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Almost all light types cannot be placed in any kerbside wheelie bin. They should be taken to the Geelong Resource Recovery Centre for free drop off.


Otherwise:

Incandescent globes are the only exception. They should be wrapped in paper and placed in your red lid rubbish bin.

Incandescent globes, LEDs and fluorescent tubes can be dropped off for free recycling at all IKEA stores. 



Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Metal cutlery cannot be recycled in your recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Place in the metal bins at the Drysdale and Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Separate from any jars and bottles first.



Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Metal pots and pans cannot go into the kerbside recycling bin.


Otherwise:

Drop off for free in the metal recycling bin at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres. It doesn't matter if handles are made from other materials. 

Best option for disposal:

Oil heaters are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 


Otherwise:

Residents may be eligible to have bulky household waste items picked up from their property as part of their rates payment.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Take to the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres for free drop off.

 


Otherwise:

Residents may be eligible to have bulky household waste items picked up from their property as part of their rates payment.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Ovens are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 

 


Otherwise:

Residents may be eligible to have bulky household waste items picked up from their property as part of their rates payment.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Photographic film negatives can be recycled by dropping them off at the Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct at 137-149 Mercer Street, Geelong, during opening hours. They should be placed in the dedicated x-ray slot in the recycling station located in the foyer.

Otherwise, place in your red lid rubbish bin. 



Otherwise:

X-rays and photographic film negatives are recycled here in Australia. They are a valuable source of silver and plastic. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in the metal bins at the Drysdale and Geelong Resource Recovery Centres. 

Metal saucepans cannot be recycled in your kerbside recycling bin.

 


Otherwise:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Drop off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.


Otherwise:

Alternatively, many residents are now able to have bulky household items picked up from their property.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Steel cans can be dropped off at either the Geelong or the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres for free. Check the relevant website for more details. 
 


Best option for disposal:

Stoves are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin. 


Otherwise:

Alternatively, many residents are now able to have unwanted bulky household items picked up from their property.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Power tools are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

It is against the law in Victoria to put e-waste in your kerbside bin.

Other tools that are made of mostly metal can be disposed of for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres in the metal recycling bin. 


Otherwise:

You may be able to have your tool repaired through the business you purchased it from, or a specialist repairer. 



Best option for disposal:

Metal tyre rims (without the rubber tyre) can be dropped off free at our Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres.

Otherwise:

Small metal car parts are one of the household waste items residents may be eligible to have picked up from their property.

For size and weight details, how to book, and which other items can be included, visit the hard waste page. 



Best option for disposal:

Washing machines are classified as e-waste and can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.


Otherwise:

Alternatively, residents may be eligible to have unwanted bulky household items picked up from their property.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.



Best option for disposal:

Small pieces of wire can be placed in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place wire in your recycling bin, it can jam the machinery. 


Otherwise:

Large pieces of wire can be taken to either the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery centre.

Disposal fees may apply.



Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place in your recycling bin, any type of coat hanger can jam the machinery.


Otherwise:

Dispose of for free in the metal bins at the Drysdale and Geelong Resource Recovery Centres.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

X-rays can be recycled by dropping them off at the Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct at 137-149 Mercer Street, Geelong, during opening hours. There is a dedicated x-ray slot in the recycling station located in the foyer.

Not listed? Email us for suggestions on recycling a specific item.