Your waste and recycling guide

Best option for disposal:

Check they contain an either 1, 2 or 5 number in the recycling symbol (they are usually made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE - recycling symbol number 2).

If so, they can be placed, rinsed, in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Both latex and foil balloons can be recycled through Terracycle's free balloon recycling program. Find your nearest drop off point here. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Bag and place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

The wrapping around the tray should be placed in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Small quantities of sorted excess plastic household recycling can be dropped off free of charge at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre.

Best option for disposal:

Place black plastics items such as meat trays and plastic plant pots in the red lid rubbish bin.

Black plastic items cannot be detected by the optical sorting machinery used to sort plastics at the recycling centre.

Otherwise:

Black plastic plant pots and plant labels can be returned for recycling at many local nurseries and all Bunnings stores. 

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:

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:

Blister packs can be dropped off for recycling at the following pharmacies:

• Kardinia Pharmacy, 2-18 Colac Road, Belmont
• Community Care Chemist Bellarine Village, Shop 5 Bellarine Village Shopping Centre, Newcomb
• Community Care Chemist Belmont, 1/157 High Street, Belmont
• Community Care Chemist Geelong West, 1/184 Pakington Street, Geelong West
• Community Care Chemist Grovedale, 122 Burdoo Drive, Grovedale
• Community Care Chemist North Geelong, 75 Separation Street, North Geelong
• Ocean Grove Terrace Pharmacy, 76A The Terrace, Ocean Grove
• Norlane Community Centre, 39A Rose Ave, Norlane

Due to high volume of uptake with this program we recommend you contact your chosen pharmacy before visiting to confirm they still have capacity to accept your blister packs.

Check for new pharmacies as they come on board with the scheme on the Pharmacycle website. 

Otherwise:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid landfill bin.

Otherwise:

You can reuse your empty bread bag as a small bin liner or pet poo bag. 

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:

Cardboard bread tags should be placed in your yellow lid kerbside recycling bin. As they are so small, it is best if you place them inside a larger paper item such as an envelope or paper bag first. 

Plastic bread tags can be dropped off at one of the below locations for recycling: 

• Bakers Delight, Shop 8, 164 High St, Belmont
• South Barwon Community Centre, 33 Mt. Pleasant Rd, Belmont
• Bakers Delight, 159 Pakington St, Geelong West
• Surf Coast Hearing Clinic, Suite 5, 6 Walker St, Torquay
• Urban Upcycle in Geelong: Note this is a pop-up collection point - email [email protected] or text 0434 832 391 for next date and location

Plastic bread tags recycled at the above locations are used by Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs to raise funds to provide wheelchairs to those in need.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Put in your rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

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:

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:

Otherwise:

DVDs and CDs can be dropped off for recycling at the following Customer Service Centres & Libraries:

163 High St Belmont (inside the library)

153a Pakington St Geelong West (inside the library)

2-8 Wyndham Street Drysdale (inside the library)

137 Mercer Street (Wurriki Nyal) Geelong

The Grove Centre 66-70 The Avenue Ocean Grove

230 Pioneer Road Waurn Ponds (inside the library)

Corio Shopping Centre Corner Bacchus Marsh and Purnell Roads Corio

5 Walkers Rd Lara (inside the library)

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid landfill bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Broken: Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place broken glass ornaments in your recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.  

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

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

Do not place in your recycling bin, even if the coat hanger has a recycling symbol on it. 

Otherwise:

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 in your red lid rubbish bin.

Aluminium pods are too small to be recycled through the kerbside system. 

Biodegradable pods cannot be placed in your green garden organics bin. Currently most are not actually biodegradable to Australian standards. 

Otherwise:

Banish and Terracycle offer paid coffee pod recycling services. 

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

Take to the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres. Fees apply. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin, along with any used dental floss.

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Desk phones 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 in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Plastic lids should be removed and placed in the rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

TerraCycle offers a Recycling Rewards Program for disposable razors and packaging that can help raise funds for your local school or charity. 

For more information, visit the TerraCycle website.

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

If you still have dog food left, Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) is seeking donations of the following:
- Dry dog food
- Wet and dry cat food
- Treats such as schmackos and pigs ears

You can find out more here. 

Best option for disposal:

DVD 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:

Otherwise:

DVDs are not recyclable through the kerbside recycling bin, however there are several recycling/reuse options.
Both DVDs and CDs can be dropped off for recycling at the following Customer Service Centres & Libraries:

• 163 High St Belmont (inside the library)
• 153a Pakington St Geelong West (inside the library)
• 2-8 Wyndham Street Drysdale (inside the library)
• 137 Mercer Street (Wurriki Nyal) Geelong
• The Grove Centre 66-70 The Avenue Ocean Grove
• 230 Pioneer Road Waurn Ponds (inside the library)
• Corio Shopping Centre Corner Bacchus Marsh and Purnell Roads Corio
• 5 Walkers Rd Lara (inside the library)

Once processed, the discs are used in the production of concrete. CD covers are also used for this purpose, as well as to create building materials.

DVD covers are turned into outdoor furniture, garden pots and worm farm containers.

Every part can be recycled, even the soft plastic sleeves of DVD covers; they become bin liners.

It's all processed at GT Recycling's Moolap facility, and the recycled products are used locally and overseas.

Best option for disposal:

E cigarettes (vapes) must not be placed in any of your kerbside bins.

It is against the law to place e-waste in kerbside bins in Victoria.

If the battery can be removed safely it can be taken to one of many local battery drop off points.

Hold onto both vapes that cannot have the battery removed as well as vapes that have had it removed. Check back on this page soon for updates on what to do with them. 

Otherwise:

You can receive email updates on how to safely dispose of vapes, as well as other recycling tips by subscribing to Rethink Your Rubbish. 

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:

Best option for disposal:

Put in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place in your recycling bin. Hose is the wrong type of plastic and can jam the machinery. 

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:

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:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Take to either the Geelong or Drysdale Resource and Recovery centres. Disposal fees apply.

Do not place in your recycling bin. Laserlite is the wrong type of plastic. 

Otherwise:

Small pieces may be placed in your red lid recycling bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Placed in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Remove the lid first. This can also go in your recycling bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place empty medicine bottles in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Remove lids first and place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

If you still have medication left, most pharmacies accept it under the Return Unwanted Medicines scheme.

Some medicine bottle lids are accepted for recycling by Lids4kids. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

No cartons can be recycled in household bins in Geelong, even if the carton has a label on it saying it is recyclable. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Otherwise:

TerraCycle and Colgate® have partnered to create a free recycling program for oral care products.

Visit the TerraCycle site for details.

Best option for disposal:

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

Do not place in your recycling 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:

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Otherwise:

The following items can be dropped off for free at Officeworks stores: pens, felt tip pens, highlighters, textas, markers, mechanical pencils, correction tape, liquid paper, fountain pens and ink cartridges. 

Find out more here. 

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:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Lids are complex. Please read the information below in full.

Lids larger than a credit card: Remove from bottle or jar and place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Lids smaller than a credit card that are a different colour to the bottle or jar they came with: Remove from bottle or jar and place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Lids smaller than a credit card that are the same colour as the bottle or jar they came with: Leave on. 

Lids on eligible container deposit scheme bottles: Leave on.

Otherwise:

Lids4Kids Geelong collect, sort and recycle selected plastic lids. You can find your nearest drop off location here.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Remove the plastic bottle tops first. Place these lids in your rubbish bin. 

Otherwise:

You can receive a refund for returning eligible plastic bottles through the Container Deposit Scheme. Lids can be left on and are recycled too. 

Some plastic bottle lids, such as 2 litre milk bottle lids, are accepted for recycling by Lids4kids. 

Best option for disposal:

Plastic buckets can be recycled at the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery centres.

Do not place buckets in your recycling bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not put pegs in the recycling bin. They are also to small and lightweight for current recycling technology to sort.

Best option for disposal:

Plastic marked with a number 1, also known as PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) can be placed in your recycling bin. Remove any plastic tops first.

PET is the clear tough plastic found in items such as soft drink, water and juice bottles.

Otherwise:

Excess PET bottles (up to 0.5 cubic metres) can be dropped off at either the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres for free. 

Plastic lids smaller than a credit card should be placed in your red lid waste bin or can be recycled through Lids4Kids. 

Best option for disposal:

Plastic marked with a number 2, also known as HDPE (High-density polyethylene) can be placed in your recycling bin. Remove any plastic tops first.

HDPE is the common white or coloured plastic used in items such as milk containers or shampoo bottles.

Otherwise:

Excess HDPE bottles (up to 0.5 cubic metres) can be dropped off at either the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres for free. 

Plastic lids smaller than a credit card should be placed in your red lid waste bin or can be recycled through Lids4Kids. 

Best option for disposal:

Place plastic marked with a number 3, PVC (Polyvinyl chloride or plasticised polyvinyl chloride) in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place plastic marked with a number 3 in your kerbside recycling bin. 

PVC is used for gift cards and driver's licences, as well as piping and conduit. 

Best option for disposal:

Place plastic number 4 LDPE (Low density polyethylene) in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place plastic marked with a number 4 in your kerbside recycling bin. 

LDPE items are most commonly known as 'soft plastics'. LDPE is used to make products such as plastic bags and food wrappers.

Best option for disposal:

Plastic number 5, also known as PP (Polypropylene) can be placed in your recycling bin. Make sure to remove any lids first.

PP is used to make hard but flexible plastic such as takeaway containers, as well as some yoghurt and ice cream containers. 

Otherwise:

Excess PP items (up to 0.5 cubic metres) can be dropped off at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres for free. 

Plastic lids smaller than a credit card should be placed in your red lid rubbish bin or can be recycled through Lids4Kids. 

Best option for disposal:

Place plastic number 6 (also known as PS or Polystyrene) in your in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Do not place polystyrene in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Large pieces of polystyrene, known as white expanded polystyrene (EPS) or styrofoam can be dropped off for free at Geelong Resource Recovery Centre. 

White expanded polystyrene (EPS) can be identified by looking for the small beads of foam that are released when it is broken into pieces.

You can drop of white EPS packaging for small and large appliances, as well as white polystyrene fish or fruit and vegetable boxes.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. Plastic number 7 stands for 'Other' and covers any plastic type that is not plastics 1-6.

Do not place plastic 7 in your recycling bin.

Acrylic and nylon, commonly found in clothing, are both Plastic 7. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Plastic forks, spoons and knives cannot go in your recycle bin because the utensils are the wrong shape to be properly separated by the sorting machines.

Plastic cutlery may also be able to be washed and reused. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

If your plastic food container is labelled with numbers 3, 4, 6 or 7, or a compostable or biodegradable symbol, place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Plastics 3, 4, 6 and 7 cannot be recycled through the kerbside waste system.

Find out why we can't place biodegradable or compostable containers in the green bin yet. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin. Remove the lid first.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

All plastic meat trays except black plastic trays can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Rinse trays and remove any plastic film first.

Place plastic film in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place all colours of plastic plant pot except black in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Black plastic plant pots can be recycled through PP5, a national stewardship scheme to recycle plant pots and tags. Many local nurseries and hardware shops participate in this scheme. You can find your closet location here. 

Bunnings also have their own plastic plant pot recycling program which accepts black plastic plant pots. Find out more here. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Do not place in your recycling bin, plastic plants are made from a plastic mix. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Separate from the bottle and place in your red lid rubbish bin. Place the bottle in the recycling bin.

Spray nozzles contain a metal spring which means they are unsuitable for the kerbside recycling system. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Broken: Place in your red lid rubbish bin or recycle for free through retailer Big W's Toys for Joy program.

Plastic toys that are battery operated or plug into an electrical outlet are classified as e-waste. It is against the law to place e-waste in any kerbside bin in Victoria.

Otherwise:

Plastic toys that are battery operated or plug into an electrical outlet can be dropped off for free at the Drysdale or Geelong Resource Recovery Centres. 

If still in good condition, consider giving toys a second life. Op shops or charity groups like Geelong Mums accept specific toys, otherwise give away to friends, or your local community. 

Best option for disposal:

Recycle for free at the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres.

Do not place in your kerbside recycling bin. 

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Never place polystyrene in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Otherwise:

Large pieces of white expanded polystyrene (EPS) from home appliances or produce boxes can be dropped off for free recycling at the Geelong Resource Recovery Centre. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Never place polystyrene in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Never place polystyrene in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

You can receive a refund for returning eligible prima drink cartons through the Container Deposit Scheme.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place PVC in your recycling bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Broken beyond repair: Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Good condition: Some charity shops will accept glasses. You can also check back with the business you purchased your glasses from, as many offer in store recycling.

Alternatively, glasses can be recycled with free postage from Lions Australia Recycle for Sight.

Glasses are also one of the many items you can drop off for free recycling at our Wurriki Nyal Recycling Station in central Geelong. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin as long as they are not black.

Black seedling punnets should be placed in your red lid waste bin. 

Otherwise:

Black cannot be separated by the optical sorting machinery. Black seedling punnets can be recycled at Bunnings stores and selected participating plant retailers.

Best option for disposal:

Place empty bottles in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Remove plastic lids first and place in the rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place in your recycling bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place in your recycling bin. Strapping cannot be recycled through your recycling bin as it gets tangled in the sorting machinery.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Poor condition: Place your suitcase in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

If too large for your kerbside bin, you can drop off suitcases and luggage at either the Geelong or Drysdale Resource Recovery Centres (charges apply).

Or

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

Or

Terracycle offer a paid recycling service for suitcases and luggage. Find out more here. 

Good condition: you may wish to donate your suitcase to a local op shop or advertise online community ‘freecycling’ group.

Best option for disposal:

Place takeaway containers with numbers 1, 2 and 5 in your yellow lid recycling bin. Remove lids first.

Otherwise:

Place takeaway containers with numbers 3, 4, 6 and 7 in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Takeaway containers with a home compostable AS 5810 symbol on them can be placed in your home compost.

Do not place takeaway containers with any compost symbols on in your green lid garden waste bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

This applies even if the cup has a recycling symbol on it. There are no coffee cups that can be recycled through the kerbside system.

Otherwise:

Plastic lined coffee cups can recycled at some food outlets and shopping centres. Learn more.

Coffee cups with a home compostable AS 5810 symbol on them can be placed in your home compost.

Do not place coffee cups with any compost symbols on in your green lid garden waste bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Do not place toothpaste tubes in your yellow lid recycling bin, even if the tube has instructions on it stating to do so. While the tubes are technically made from recyclable material, their shape means they jam the recycling machinery. 

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Best option for disposal:

Place the cardboard packaging into your yellow lid recycling bin.

Place the plastic skin in your red lid rubbish bin.

Best option for disposal:

Otherwise:

Best option for disposal:

Place in your yellow lid recycling bin. 

Remove aluminium foil top first. Scrunch and put it inside an aluminium drink can or within a larger piece of foil so it doesn't get lost in the sorting process.

Best option for disposal:

Containers marked with numbers 1, 2 and 5 - place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Remove lid first. If it is made of plastic, place in your recycling bin.

Containers made from any other number go in your red lid rubbish bin. 

Soft lids that peel off also go in your rubbish bin.