A to Z waste and recycling guide

About

Landfill is the last place you want to send waste.

Many waste items can be recycled and made into new products, saving valuable resources, energy and landfill space.
This guide lists a range of common household and garden items, and how you can recycle or safely dispose of them.
Conditions and fees may apply. Always contact businesses directly to check if items are accepted before you drop anything off.

Item not listed here?

Use the free online phone app Recycle Mate where you can photograph or search for an item and immediately find out where it can be recycled, refurbished or safely disposed of, based on your location.

You can also find out where you can take other items at Planet Ark's Recycling Near You website or the Sustainability Victoria website

Request to be added to this guide

Does your business or community group offer a recycling service to Cardinia Shire residents? If so, thank you! Please contact our Waste and Resource Recovery team at mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au or 1300 787 624 to be added to this guide.

A

Acids	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit Sustainability Victoria for collection dates and locations.
Aerosols	Empty aerosol cans: Kerbside recycling bin Full or half full aerosol cans: Detox Your Home collection (visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations)
Agriculture chemicals	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit Sustainability Victoria for collection dates and locations. ChemClear Visit ChemClear website to register chemicals for disposal.
Aluminium cans	Kerbside recycling bin Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.
Aluminium foil/trays	Kerbside recycling bin Note: Scrunch foil into golf ball size.
Animal (deceased - small)	Wrap in plastic bag and put in rubbish bin.
Animal (deceased - large)	See local transfer stations
Asbestos	Visit Asbestos Victoria or the Environmental Protection Authority website for disposal locations and instructions.

B

Bags (plastic)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Bags (handbags and suitcases)	See 'Clothing/textiles'
Baking paper	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Balloons	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Batteries - car	Battery Zone Pakenham Battery World Pakenham Future Recycling Pakenham Repco Pakenham Repco Pakenham Lakeside
Batteries - household	Cardinia Shire free e-waste collection boxes Aldi stores Battery Zone Batteryworld stores Cleanaway Resource Recovery Centre Lysterfield Coles Future Recycling Transfer Station Selected Woolworths stores For more locations go to the Eco Batt website
Berry punnets	Kerbside recycling bin
Biscuit trays	Kerbside recycling bin
Bikes	Brainwave Bikes accept bikes in good condition for donation H ard waste collection
Blister packs (medication)	Pharmacycle accept blister packs for recycling at participating pharmacies. Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Books	If in good condition, consider donating books at participating Officeworks stores or giving them away via BookMooch Kerbside recycling bin Remove any plastic or laminated covers first.
Bottles (plastic, glass)	Kerbside recycling bin Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.
Bricks and masonry	See local transfer stations
Bubble wrap	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Building and renovation materials	See local transfer stations

C

Cans (Steel, aluminium)	Kerbside recycling bin Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.
Car parts	Small car parts, except those listed below may be accepted in your hard waste collection. Car springs, engines, gearboxes, differentials and other large car parts may be accepted at transfer stations for a fee. See local transfer stations .
Cardboard	Kerbside recycling bin Some transfer stations also accept cardboard for free. Waxed cardboard goes in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Cartons (Long-life/Tetra-pak)	Rubbish (landfill) bin
Cartons (Refrigerated)	Rubbish (landfill) bin
Carpet	Hard waste collection Book up to 2 free collections per year. *Carpet should be rolled, taped and less than 1.5m in length.
Chemicals (Household chemicals, liquids and hazardous waste)	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.
Cigarette Lighter (empty)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Clothing or Textiles	Sell or donate if in good condition. If damaged, recycle at clothing retailers H&M and Zara – they both accept clothing in any condition for textile recycling. Some op shops will accept damaged clothing for rags, but always ask first. Local mechanics and painters may be able to use them for rags, too. You can also contact Upparel to book for a collection (for a fee) Check Recycling Near You for additional recycling options and drop-off points.
Clothes hangers	Sell or donate if in good condition. Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Coffee pods	Nespresso pods can be returned to Nespresso stores L'or, Moccona & illy can be recycled through Terracycle's free recycling program All other brands can be recycled through purchased Terracycle Zero waste boxes If not recycled through these programs, dispose of in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Computers and computer parts	Cardinia Shire free e-waste collection boxes Officeworks stores (up to 5 items can be dropped off) Local transfer stations.

D

DrumMuster drums	Drum Muster is held twice a year at the Council depot, 18 Purton Road, Pakenham. Visit Drum Muster for dates and additional locations.
Dishwasher/ Dryer	See ‘Whitegoods’ section
Doors (internal)	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year.
Drain cleaner	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.

E

E-waste (Electronic waste: any item with a plug, battery or cord at the end of its useful life)	Visit the e-waste page
Electrical cords / charging cables	Free e-waste collection boxes

F

Fertiliser	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.
Fire extinguishers	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.
Fluorescent lightglobes	See 'Lightglobes'
Foam underlay	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Materials accepted for fee. See transfer stations
Food pouches (yoghurt or baby food)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Food waste	Compost bin or worm farm Rebates are available to residents. Check waste rebates and discounts for details. Kerbside green waste bin
Fuel	Detox Your Home collection Free disposal of household chemicals. Visit the Sustainability Victoria website for collection dates and locations.
Furniture	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year.

G

Garden/green waste	Kerbside green waste bin Compost bin or worm farm Rebates are available to residents. Check waste rebates and discounts for details. Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Green waste drop-off days
Gas bottles and cylinders	Exchange programs include Elgas’ SWAP’n’GO and Kleenheat’s Kwik-Gas. Local transfer stations.
Glass bottles and jars	Kerbside recycling bin Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.
Glass (drinking)	Sell or donate if in good condition. If broken wrap and place in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Glasses (spectacles/sunglasses)	Check if your eye clinic will take old glasses back for recycling. Hewitt Eco-House, Koo Wee Rup Hospital also accept old glasses for recycling.
Glass windows, cups, mirrors, table tops	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Note: Glass and mirrors must be securely wrapped and labelled.
Gloves (disposable and damaged reusables)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Green reusable bags	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

H

Hair	Animal and human hair can go in your kerbside green waste bin
Hot water units	Hard waste collection Book up to 2 free collections per year.
Hose (garden hose)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

I

Ink cartridges	See ‘Printer cartridges’

J

Jars (glass or plastic)	Kerbside recycling bin

L

Laptops	Glee givers Cardinia Shire free e-waste collection boxes Future Recycling Pakenham Officeworks
Light globes	Drop off point for regular light globes, fluorescent tubes and CFL globes: Pakenham Library (regular light globes only) Emerald Library (regular light globes only) Grantville Transfer Station (fees apply) Monash Waste Transfer and Recycling Station Drop-off points for regular and CFL globes only (no tubes): Hewitt Eco-House IKEA Springvale Small quantities of incandescent globes and halogens can be wrapped in newspaper and placed in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

Laptops

Light globes

Drop off point for regular light globes, fluorescent tubes and CFL globes:

Pakenham Library (regular light globes only)
Emerald Library (regular light globes only)
Grantville Transfer Station (fees apply)
Monash Waste Transfer and Recycling Station

Drop-off points for regular and CFL globes only (no tubes):

Small quantities of incandescent globes and halogens can be wrapped in newspaper and placed in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.

M

Magazines and catalogues	Kerbside recycling bin
Mask (disposable)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Mattresses	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Some transfer stations may accept mattresses for a fee.
Meat trays	Foam (polystyrene) - Rubbish (landfill) bin Black plastic - Rubbish (landfill) bin Clear or white plastic - Recycling bin (remove the absorption pad and soft plastic wrapper and place in the rubbish (landfill) bin).
Medicines (old)	Dispose of old pharmaceuticals safely by returning them to your local pharmacy/chemist.
Mirrors	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Note: Glass and mirrors must be securely wrapped and labelled.
Mobile phones	If your smartphone still works: It can be donated to DV Safe Phone to be repurposed for people experiencing family and domestic violence. Simply drop off your smartphone to Council’s DV Safe Phone donation boxes or mail it to DV Safe Phone. Mobile phones can also be taken to: Cardinia Shire free e-waste collection boxes Salvos stores Telstra stores Optus stores Officeworks stores Australia Post stores

N

Needles	See ‘Syringes’

O

Ovens / stoves	See ‘Whitegoods’
Oil (motor)	Drop off at Future Recycling Pakenham or your local transfer station for a fee. See transfer stations Supercheap Auto accept oil for recycling. Contact store for more information.
Oil (cooking oil and fat)	Small amounts absorbed in paper towel or newspaper can go in your Kerbside green waste bin

P

Paint	Future Recycling Transfer Station in Pakenham accepts selected paint products as part of the Paintback program Note: Aerosol paints are not accepted.
Paint aerosols (full or partially empty)	Take to a Detox Your Home Collection. For collection dates and locations visit the Sustainability Victoria website
Paint tins (empty)	Hard waste collection Book up to 2 free collections per year Note: Lids must be removed.
Paint tins (with liquid or dry paint)	The Future Recycling Transfer Station in Pakenham accepts selected paint products as part of the Paintback program.
Paper	Kerbside recycling bin Shredded paper can't be recycled as the pieces are too small to collect. Put in your compost bin or kerbside green waste bin. Waxed paper goes in your kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Paper towel	Kerbside green waste bin or your compost bin if you have one.
Pet food packaging	Tins (empty and clean) Kerbside recycling bin
Petrol	See 'Fuel'
Pens	Used pens, markers and highlighters can be dropped off at participating Officeworks stores
Photographs	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Pill / blister packets	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Pizza boxes	Clean boxes or lids can go in your kerbside recycling bin Oily bases should go into your compost bin or your kerbside green waste bin
Plant pots	Return to your garden centre. Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Plasterboard	Local transfer stations
Plastic bottles (hard)	Kerbside recycling bin Take eligible beverage containers to one of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme drop-off points.
Plastic containers (hard)	Kerbside recycling bin
Plastic (soft)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Plastic cutlery (single-use)	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Polystyrene	Visit the Recycling Near You webpage for recycling locations. Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Pots and pans (kitchen)	Sell or donate if in good condition. Recycle for free at Future Recycling Pakenham, or your local transfer station. Otherwise put in your weekly kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin.
Printer ink and toner cartridges	Cartridges 4 Planet Ark collection boxes, located at: Cardinia Shire Customer Service Centre. Australia Post stores. Officeworks stores.

S

Scrap metal	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year.
Shoes	Sports shoes can be recycled through the Save Our Soles Initiative. Collection points include SportsPower Pakenham and Rebel Sport. Visit the Save Our Soles website for more locations. Work boots Totally Workwear
Silage wrap	Drouin Waste Recyclers Dairy Australia Recycling initiative
Smoke alarms	Cardinia Shire free e-waste collection boxes
Soft plastics	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin (as the REDcycle program is now paused and not taking soft plastics)
Soil/ dirt	Future Recycling Pakenham - Clean-fill only, fees apply Suez Hampton Park - Clean-fill only, fees apply
Solar panels	Hard waste collection (maximum of 6 panels) Book up to two free collections per year.
Sporting goods	Sell or donate if in good condition. Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year.
Steel cans	Kerbside recycling bin
Syringes	Syringe disposal exchange service Please report any needles you find to customer service on 1300 787 624

T

Tablets, notebooks and palmtops	Free e-waste collection boxes Officeworks stores
Takeaway food containers	Foam (polystyrene) - Rubbish (landfill) bin Black plastic - Rubbish (landfill) bin Clear or white plastic - Kerbside recycling bin Cardboard - see 'Pizza box'
Televisions/ (TVs)	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Future Recycling Transfer Station Pakenham. (Free disposal of e-waste).
Timber	Hard waste collection Local transfer stations
Tissues	Kerbside green waste bin or your home compost system Otherwise kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes	Emerald Community House (356-358 Belgrave-Gembrook Road) have a drop off station. Visit TerraCycle for more locations. Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Toys (soft / plush or plastic)	Sell or donate if in good condition. Join a local Toy Library. Drop off pre-loved toys to participating Big W stores for recycling Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin. Remove any batteries first - see E-waste.
Tyres	Car - Hard waste collection Other - Local transfer stations Tyre retailers and businesses may also accept unwanted tyres

V

Vapes (e-cigarettes)	Remove the battery from the vape, and take the battery to an e-waste drop-off point. Place the rest of the vape cartridge and components into a bag and dispose of in the rubbish bin.
VHS Tapes	Drop-off at free e-waste collection boxes

W

Weeds	Kerbside green waste bin
Wet wipes	Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin
Whitegoods (washing machine, dryers, dishwasher, fridge, freezer)	Hard waste collection Book up to two free collections per year. Tip: When purchasing new whitegoods, ask the retailer if they offer recycling services for items you’re replacing.

Weeds

Kerbside green waste bin

Wet wipes

Kerbside rubbish (landfill) bin

Whitegoods (washing machine, dryers, dishwasher, fridge, freezer)

Hard waste collection

Book up to two free collections per year.

Tip: When purchasing new whitegoods, ask the retailer if they offer recycling services for items you’re replacing.

X

X-rays	Emerald Library Pakenham Library Koo Wee Rup Hospital reception Council’s Customer Service Centre, Officer

X-rays

Emerald Library

Pakenham Library

Koo Wee Rup Hospital reception

Council’s Customer Service Centre, Officer

About

Item not listed here?

Request to be added to this guide

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B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

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L

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