Waste drop-off days

Key points

  • You can dispose of excess green waste at one of our free green waste drop off days.  
  • You can drop off ‘end of life’ textiles to be recycled at our upcoming Textiles Drop-off event
  • You can also dispose of chemicals and other hazardous liquids through the Detox Your Home collections offered by the Victorian Government. You can also drop off eligible empty agvet chemical containers at drumMUSTER events. 
  • Check if you need to book or register for specific drop-off events.

Green waste drop-off

  • We hold free green waste drop off days for Cardinia Shire residents.
  • Green waste can be dropped off in residential vehicles and trailers only. Commercial business operators cannot use the service. 
  • You need to bring Photo ID that shows your home address in Cardinia Shire. 
  • The green waste is shredded and taken to a composting facility. It is then broken down and turned into high-quality soil conditioner to help grow food and gardens in Victoria.

Drop-off dates and locations

2025 dates to be announced soon

What you can drop off 

Residential amounts of garden waste, including:

  • flowers
  • garden prunings
  • grass clippings
  • leaves
  • tree branches and trunks up to 30 centimetres wide and 1 metre long
  • weeds

What you can't drop off 

  • Rocks, stones, soil or potting mix
  • Building and renovation waste (such as timber and fence palings) 
  • Commercial quantities of green waste
  • Treated timber
  • Green waste in a bag
  • Food
  • Manure and animal waste
  • General household rubbish or recyclables
  • Plant pots
  • Medical syringes
  • Clothes and shoes
  • Hessian or plastic bags
  • Hazardous waste or chemicals. 

Other ways to dispose of green waste

Christmas cardboard drop-off event

Drop off your excess cardboard and wrapping paper at this FREE event.  

The event accepts unlimited residential loads of cardboard (clean and dry) and paper from Cardinia Shire residents only.  

These items will be recycled, providing a sustainable solution for excess cardboard during the festive season. 

Event details

Location: Future Recycling Transfer Station (30-32 Exchange Dr, Pakenham) 

Dates and times:  

  • Friday 27 Dec, 8am – 4pm 
  • Saturday 28 Dec, 8am – 2:30pm 
  • Monday 30 Dec, 8am – 4pm
  • Thursday 9 Jan, 8am – 4pm  
  • Friday 10 Jan, 8am – 4pm  
  • Saturday 11 Jan, 8am – 2:30pm 

As this event is for Cardinia Shire residents only, photo ID with a Cardinia Shire address will be required. 

Waste will only be accepted from residential vehicles and trailers; commercial business operators cannot use this service.  

What I can drop off? 

  • Flattened and dry cardboard 
  • Gift wrapping paper 

What can’t I drop off? 

  • Polystyrene 
  • Wet cardboard 
  • Soft plastics packaging 
  • Plastic gift wrapping 
  • Cellophane, ribbons, bows and other Christmas decorations 

Other disposal options for the festive season!

Christmas trees

  • Real and plastic Christmas trees can be disposed of safely by booking a hard waste collection. Each Cardinia household can book 2 free collections per year.   
  • Real Christmas trees if cut into tree branches and trunks up to 30 centimetres wide and 1 metre long, can be taken to our free green waste drop-off events 
  • Real Christmas trees can also be cut into small pieces and put in your food and garden waste bin. Ensure your bin is not over 70kgs.  
  • Check with your local Christmas tree farm if they offer any disposal options 
  • You can also contact your local tip or transfer station 

E-waste

  • E-waste is any item that has a battery, cord or plug, and is at the end of its useful life. This includes Christmas lights, batteries, appliances and electronic kid’s toys.  
  • You can dispose of any e-waste at your nearest transfer station, all year round. For other options, go to Council’s E-waste webpage  

For more info on how to dispose of other household items, go to Council’s A to Z waste and recycling guide 

Detox Your Home collections

  • Detox Your Home provides a way to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals such as cleaners, fuels and pesticides.
  • Commercial business operators cannot use the service.
  • Residents wanting to attend will need to book in advance.

Upcoming events near Cardinia Shire

For more information and for upcoming dates and locations go to Sustainability Victoria's Detox Your Home webpage

drumMUSTER collections

DrumMUSTER provides agricultural and veterinary chemical users with a way to recycle eligible empty agvet chemical containers.

For more info or to find another drop-off point, visit the DrumMuster website

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