Waste and Recycling A-Z

Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event.

Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event.

Paper and cardboard advertising material should be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Please remove plastic wrapping and magnets first. The plastic windows in envelopes don't need to be removed.

Place empty aerosol cans in your yellow lid recycling bin. Leave the can intact (do not pierce or squash it). Take off the plastic lid and place both the can and lid  in your recycling bin.

Aerosol cans that still contain product should be taken to a Household Chemical CleanOut event or to Summerhill Community Recycling Centre.

Air conditioners

Take to Summerhill Waste Management Centre using a bulk waste self-haul (tipping) voucher, otherwise disposal fees apply.

Air conditioners that have been professionally degassed by a qualified technician may be placed on the kerbside for  collection through our booked kerbside bulk waste collection service.

Some scrap metal merchants may accept air conditioners for recycling.

Air compressors

Air compressor canisters that are empty and have had the valve removed can be dropped off at Summerhill Waste Management Centre at no charge through our scrap metal recycling program.

Air compressors still under pressure can't be accepted at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Contact a scrap metal recycler for disposal.

Metal aerosol cans
Place empty metal aerosol cans in your yellow lid recycling bin. Leave the can intact (do not pierce or squash it). Take off the plastic lid and place both the can and lid  in your recycling bin.

Aerosol cans that still contain product should be taken to a Household Chemical CleanOut event. 

Plastic  bottles
Empty plastic bottles can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Plug in air fresheners and refills
Plug-in air fresheners can be recycled through Terracycle.

Hanging air fresheners
Place in red lid general waste bin.

Cans (food/drink)
Place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Foil
Clean aluminium foil can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Scrunch into a tennis ball size first to ensure it can be recycled.

Dirty foil should be placed in your red lid general waste bin.

Trays
Place in your yellow lid recycling bin. Remove food scraps and liquid first.

Ammunition is a dangerous hazard to both the community and the environment. Under no circumstances should any form of ammunition be placed in any kerbside or public place bin.

Unwanted ammunition can be handed in at any police station or arms dealer for correct disposal.

Animal droppings, such as dog faeces and kitty litter, should be placed in your red lid general waste bin. Please wrap kitty litter in a plastic bag or paper prior to disposal.

Pet waste worm farms and composters are available to purchase from some hardware stores and online retailers.

Dead animals, including domestic pets, are accepted at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Fees and charges apply. For the disposal of dead livestock or large animals please refer to the procedures outlined in the Special or Offensive Wastes factsheet, which includes booking prior to arrival.

Please be advised that dead animals received at Summerhill are buried with other wastes on-site using heavy machinery. For pet funeral and related burial services, please contact a veterinary practice or pet cemetery.  

Deceased animals, such as cats and dogs, found on the road or or in a public place should be reported for removal by Council by calling 02 4974 2000. Council does not provide a service for removing deceased animals from private property; alternate arrangements will need to be made.

Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event.

Take to a Household Chemical CleanOut event.

Small household appliances (e.g., TVs, kettles, toasters, hair dryers) are considered electronic waste (e-waste). Newcastle residents can take e-waste to Summerhill Waste Management Centre for free disposal; maximum of 10 items per visit and proof of residency required.

For fridges, freezers and larger appliances such as dishwashers, ovens and dryers see white goods.

Asbestos should NOT be placed in any kerbside bin, public place bin or mixed with other wastes.

There are very specific requirements for the handling and disposal of asbestos due to the significant health risk to you, our community and the environment if not disposed of correctly.

Asbestos can be disposed of safely at Summerhill Waste Management Centre, however, you must contact us on 4974 2000 at least 24 hours prior to bringing the asbestos to Summerhill Waste Management Centre. If you don't contact us and don't comply with the specific conditions for the safe disposal of asbestos, we will be unable to accept your waste.

Residents can use a bulk waste self-haul (tipping) voucher to bring up to 100kg of asbestos to Summerhill Waste Management Centre at no charge. If you don't have a voucher or have more than 100kg Fees and Charges will apply.

To find out all terms and conditions for asbestos disposal visit our Asbestos Disposal Factsheet.

Ashes should be bagged and placed in your red lid general waste bin once cold.  Do not place hot ashes in your bin

Place in your red lid general waste bin.

Batteries should NOT be placed in any of your household  bins. Please see Batteries for the many different disposal options.

Empty cosmetic jars (plastic and glass) can be recycled in your yellow lid recycling bin. Remove plastic lids from glass jars and place both in your recycling bin.

For other beauty products or containers with product still in them,  visit Terracycle for recycling options or place in your red lid general waste bin.

Donate or sell if in good condition. 

Newcastle Push Bike Library accept donations of bikes.

Bicycles can be placed on the kerbside for collection through our booked bulk waste collection service.

They can also be brought to Summerhill Waste Management Centre and dropped off at no cost either as free scrap metal or via our bulk waste self-haul voucher service.

Place in your red lid general waste bin.

Visit our soft plastics page to find out about Curby, our kerbside soft plastic recycling program. Biscuit packets should not be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin unless contained within a registered Curby recycling bag.

Take to a supermarket that collects soft plastics for recycling.

Take to Summerhill Waste Management Centre for recycling through our Sort & Save service (no charge  for Newcastle residents; proof of residency required).

Place in yellow lid recycling bin.

Donate or sell if in good condition. Consider donating to a local book library

Place in yellow lid recycling bin

Place glass and plastic bottles in your yellow lid recycling bin. Leave lids on plastic bottles.

Remove metal lids (e.g., beer bottle lids), collect the lids and place into steel container (e.g., empty food tin) and squeeze the top closed.

Many bottles can be taken to a Return and Earn recycling station for a 10c refund.

Excess quantities can be taken to Summerhill Waste Management Centre for recycling through our Sort & Save service (no charge for Newcastle residents if items pre-sorted prior to arrival on site; proof of residence required).

Donate or sell if in good condition. Place in red lid general waste bin.

Plastic and paper bowls

Scrape off food and place in your yellow lid recycling bin.

Biocane or sugar cane bowls

Place in your red lid general waste bin.

Branches less than 10cm in diameter

Place in your green lid garden organics bin.

Small branches can be bundled together and placed on the kerbside for a booked bulk waste collection service.

Branches larger than 10cm in diameter

Take to Summerhill Waste Management Centre using a bulk waste self-haul (tipping) voucher otherwise Fees apply. 

Tree stumps

Take to Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Fees apply.

Visit our soft plastics page to find out about Curby, our kerbside soft plastic recycling program. Bubble wrap should not be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin unless contained within a registered Curby recycling bag.

Take to a supermarket that accepts soft plastics for recycling.

Take to Summerhill Waste Management Centre for recycling through our Sort & Save service (no charge  for Newcastle residents; proof of residency required).

Commercial customers

Take to Summerhill Waste Management Centre for recycling. Fees and minimum charges apply.