What goes in the recycling bin?
The top five materials in the yellow bin
Many items are recyclable but not all of them belong in the yellow-lid bin! Most bottles, jars, containers, hard plastics, paper and cardboard do belong. For all other items check Recycle Mate to find an alternative location for recyclables, that do not belong in your kerbside yellow lid bin.
5 Materials:
- Hard Plastics
- Metals
- Aluminium
- Glass
-
Paper and Cardboard
Hard plastics can be recycled into new products, such as garden furniture, piping, and decking.
Items that DO go in your yellow-lid bin:
- milk bottles
- butter, yoghurt and ice cream tubs
- skin care and shampoo bottles
- cleaning, detergent and soap bottles
- soft drink and juice bottles.*
Items that DON'T go in your yellow-lid bin:
- plastic toys
- soft plastics, including plastic bags or plastic packaging.
* Remember that eligible containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.
Recycling aluminium and steel saves resources and uses less energy than producing these metals from raw materials. Aluminium can be recycled over and over again without losing its quality.
Steel
Items that DO go in your yellow-lid bin:
- baby formula tins
- coffee and chocolate milk tins
- food tins
- pet food tins
Items that DON'T go in your yellow-lid bin:
- scrap metal
- paint tins
- batteries
Aluminium
Items that DO go in your yellow-lid bin:
- aerosol deodorants (empty)
- aerosol hair sprays (empty)
- aerosol cooking sprays (empty)
- insect sprays (empty)
- foil (clean tray/foil wrap scrunched into a ball)
- drink cans*
Items that DON'T go in your yellow-lid bin:
- aluminium saucepans
- aluminium window frames
* Remember that eligible containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.
Glass bottles and jars can be recycled again and again without losing quality, making it a highly sustainable material.
Items that DO go in your yellow-lid bin:
- sauce bottles
- jam jars
- oil and vinegar bottles
- alcohol bottles*
- juice and soft drink bottles*
Items that DON'T go in your yellow-lid bin:
- drinking glasses
- glass cookware
- lightbulbs
- windows or mirrors
* Remember that eligible drink containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.
Every year, over 300,000 tonnes of paper and packaging is sent to recyclers to be turned into new products such as toilet rolls, egg cartons and packaging.
Remember to keep your recycling loose and not in a bag when you put it in the yellow lid bin. Placing recyclable items in paper bags can affect how the items are sorted and processed at material recovery facilities.
Items that DO go in your yellow-lid bin:
- non-greasy pizza boxes
- office paper
- magazines, brochures and catalogues
- wrapping paper (no foil/glitter)
- toilet rolls
- cereal boxes and cardboard boxes
- egg cartons
- milk cartons
- juice containers including poppers*
Items that DON'T go in your yellow-lid bin:
- biodegradable cups and plates
- tissues and paper towels.
* Remember eligible containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.
LET'S GET IT SORTED is an initiative supported by the Queensland Government's Recycling and Jobs Fund.