A to Z guide to waste and recycling options
I want to dispose of | Put it in home bin | Other options |
Aerosol cans (empty) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Aluminium foil | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Animal droppings / Faeces | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Asbestos | No | Contact the EPA for disposal options |
Bag ties | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Baked goods | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Baking paper | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Band aids | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Baskets | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op shops |
Batteries (household) | No | Supermarkets like Coles and Aldi also offer battery recycling. See the B-cycle website for drop off points. |
Batteries (car) | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Beer bottles | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Most 150 ml to 3L beverage containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme |
Biscuit trays (these are usually classified as soft plastics) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | 12 select supermarkets in Melbourne are accepting soft plastics as part of a trial, including Aldi in St Kilda. |
Bottles (glass) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Most 150 ml to 3L beverage containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme |
Bottles (plastic) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Most 150 ml to 3L beverage containers are recyclable through the Victorian Container Deposit scheme |
Bottles (steel) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid). | Most 150 ml to 3L beverage containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme |
Branches | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | if it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Bricks and rubble | No | Landfill - we do not operate a landfill, but you can choose one from this list. |
Building materials | No | Landfill - we do not operate a landfill, but you can choose one from this list. |
Butter foils | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cake trays (plastic codes 1, 2 and 5 only) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Cans (aluminium or steel) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Most 150 ml to 3L beverage containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme |
Car batteries | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Car parts (small) | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Cardboard and paper (dry & no food items) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Resource Recovery Centre |
Cardboard/paper – laminated | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cardboard/paper – waxed | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Carpet and underlay | No | Hard/green waste collection |
Cartridges (printer/toner) | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Carton – fresh milk, juice etc. – no foil lining, under 1L | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Small drink cartons can be recycled through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme |
Carton – fresh milk, juice etc. – no foil lining, 1L or above | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Carton – long life milks etc. – liquid paperboard (LPB) – under 1L | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Small liquid paperboard containers can be recycled through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme |
Carton – long life milks etc. – liquid paperboard (LPB) – 1L or above | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cassettes/VHS tapes | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cereal boxes | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Cereals and grains | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Chemicals | No | Visit Sustainability Victoria's Detox your home initiative |
Cigarette butts | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cleaning rags | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cling wrap | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Clothing and textiles | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op shops - can donate if in good condition |
Coat hangers | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op shops |
Coffee Cups - paper / plastic blend (most common) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) |
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Coffee Cups - industrially compostable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Coffee Cups - home compostable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | If classified as 'home' compostable you can place in your own compost bin, but not FOGO. |
Coffee Cups - (lid) - plastic | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) Most coffee cup lids are made from plastic that can't be recycled by our processor, for example, polystyrene. This is why we recommended placing them in a garbage bin. | |
Coffee Cups - (lid) - industrially compostable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Coffee Cups - (lid) - home compostable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | If classified as 'home' compostable you can place in your own compost bin but not FOGO. |
Coffee grounds | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Coffee pods | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Concrete | No | Take it to the Tip/Landfill |
Cooked bones | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cooking Oils and fats(absorbed in paper towel or newspaper) | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Corks | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cotton wool buds | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Crockery (broken) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Crockery (not broken) | No | Op shops |
Cucumber in plastic wrap | Cucumber in FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) Soft plastic in Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | 12 select supermarkets in Melbourne are accepting soft plastics as part of a trial, including Aldi in St Kilda. |
Curtains | No | Op shops |
Cutlery (metal) | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Cutlery - plastic (disposable) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Cutlery - compostable/biodegradable or wooden (disposable) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Dairy foods | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Dead animals | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Detergent bottles (plastic) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Dog toys | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Doors | No | Resource Recovery Centre or Hard/green waste collection |
Dryer lint | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
E-cigarette (also known as a vape) | No | Vape recycling service at St Kilda Town Hall during business hours (From February 19, 2024) |
Egg Shells | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
E-waste/electrical waste | No | Resource Recovery Centre or Hard/green waste collection |
Fake grass | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Feathers | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Fish and Chips paper | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Flowers | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Fluorescent tubes | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Food and garden organics | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Food containers (styrofoam) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | if plastic can go in the recycling bin with yellow lid |
Food Scraps | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Food stickers and labels | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Fruit/veg scraps | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Furniture | No | Hard/green waste collection |
Garden waste | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | Resource Recovery Centre or book for Hard/green waste collection. |
Gas bottles | No | For LPG gas bottles used in BBQs, companies such as ELGAS have a 'Swap and Go' program that operates through petrol service stations. Check out the ELGAS website for more information on locations. |
General garden clippings | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
General garden clippings | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | if it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Glad Wrap | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Glass bottles and jars without lids/caps | Mixed recycling (yellow lid)/ Communal Glass Recycling hub | Communal glass recycling hubs |
Glossy magazines/catalogues | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Glossy writing pad | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Grains | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Grass Clippings | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Grass Clippings | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Greasy paper plates | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Greeting Cards | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Household chemicals | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Resource Recovery Centre |
Human hair and animal hair | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Jelly | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Kitty litter (all) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Lawn clippings | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Leaves | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Leftovers (food) | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Lids (plastic) - codes 1, 2 and 5 only, and larger than a credit card | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) Note: If smaller than a credit card size, place in Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Lids from drink containers or jars etc. (metal) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Light bulbs | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Liquid paperboard (LPB) containers (for drinks/other liquids) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Small liquid paperboard containers can be recycled through the Victorian Container Deposit scheme |
Lollies | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Long life cartons | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Magazines | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Magazines/junk mail | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Manure | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Mattresses | No | Resource Recovery Centre or Hard/green waste collection |
Meat (raw and cooked) | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Medicine glass bottles (empty, rinsed) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid)/ Communal Glass Recycling hub | Communal glass recycling hubs |
Mesh onion bags | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Milk bottles (without the lid) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Mirrors | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Mobile phones | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Napkins, paper | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Nappies | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Needles/syringes | No | Phone ASSIST 03 9209 6777 |
Newspaper | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Nuts and Seeds | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Oil | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Ovens | No | Resource Recovery Centre or Hard/green waste collection |
Paper – shredded | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | Resource Recovery Centre |
Paper bags | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Paper napkins | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Paper plates (used) | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Paper towel rolls | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Paper towel | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Pasta | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Pavers | No | Take it to the Tip/Landfill |
Pet food (wet or dry) | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Pet food tins | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Pizza boxes (dirty/soiled) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Pizza boxes (empty/clean) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Plain wrapping paper | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Plant pots | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Plastic bottles | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Most 150 ml to 3L beverage containers are recyclable through the Victorian Container Deposit scheme |
Plastic crockery – biodegradable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Plastic crockery – industrially compostable (AS 4736, ABAX 9999) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Plastic crockery – home compostable (AS 5810, ABAX 9999) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Home compost (Not FOGO bin) |
Plastic bags | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Plastic bags of FOGO | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Dispose of food/garden material in the FOGO bin |
Plastic bubble wrap | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Plastic containers (code 1, 2 and 5) (empty and rinsed) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Plastic food wrappers (e.g. lolly wrappers) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | 12 select supermarkets in Melbourne are accepting soft plastics as part of a trial, including Aldi in St Kilda. |
Plastic wrap | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Popsicle sticks | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Post it notes (sticky notes) | Individual Post It notes go into the Garbage bin (red/dark green lidded bin). For multiple notes, place these inside an envelope and then into the Mixed recycling (yellow lidded) bin. | |
Polystyrene (all colours) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Can be disposed of at the Resource Recovery Centre where it will go to landfill. |
Poultry | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Printed serviettes | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Prunings and cuttings | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Punnets (strawberry / fruit) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Pyrex ovenware (not broken) | No | Op shops |
Pyrex ovenware (broken) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Real Christmas trees | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Salad, including any dressing | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Scrap metal | No | Resource Recovery Centre or book for Hard/green waste collection |
Seafood | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Shellfish shells | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Shoes | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Resource Recovery Centre |
Shredded paper | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Small branches | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Smoke alarms | No | Resource Recovery Centre (e-waste drop off) |
Soft drink bottles without the lid | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Soil | No | Take it to the Tip/Landfill |
Soup sachets | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Spoiled food | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Sporting goods | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op shops |
Steel pots | No | Resource Recovery Centre |
Steel/aluminium (cans) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Resource Recovery Centre |
Stereo | No | Resource Recovery Centre or hard/green waste collection |
Sticks | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Stock cube packaging | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Stoves | No | Resource Recovery Centre or hard/green waste collection |
Straw and hay | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Synthetic fertiliser | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Takeaway coffee cups (bottom) | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Takeaway food cartons | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Take-away containers (empty) – plastic (codes 1, 2 and 5) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Take-away containers (empty) – biodegradable plastic | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Take-away containers (empty) – industrially compostable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Take-away containers (empty) – home compostable | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Home compost bin - not FOGO bin |
Tea leaves (loose) | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Tea bags | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Textiles | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op Shops / Specialist recyclers – Terracycle offer several textile recycling services |
Thorny branches | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | If it doesn't fit in the FOGO bin, bundle together or bag it and dispose at the RRC or book for green waste collection. |
Timber (small) | No | Resource Recovery Centre or book for hard/green waste collection |
Tissues | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Toilet paper rolls (cardboard) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | |
Toys | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op Shops / Specialist recyclers – Terracycle offer several textile recycling services |
Tree roots | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Twin/rope | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Tyres | No | Contact commercial suppliers |
Uncooked Bones | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Vacuum cleaner dirt | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Vape (also known as an e-cigarette) | No | Vape recycling service at St Kilda Town Hall during business hours (From February 19, 2024) |
Vegetables | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Vinyl | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | Op shops |
Washing machines | No | Resource Recovery Centre or Hard/green waste collection |
Waxed packaging | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) | |
Weeds | FOGO bin (food/garden organics - kerbside/communal) | |
Window glass | Garbage bin (red/dark green lid) (wrap in a paper) | |
Wine and spirit bottles (glass) | Mixed recycling (yellow lid) | Communal hubs |