Recyclables collection

Your blue lid mixed recycling bin is used for the collection of recyclable containers and paper items.

When is my mixed recycling collected?

Recycling bin with blue lid

Your mixed recycling (blue lid) is collected fortnightly on the same day as your general waste collection and the alternate week to your food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin.

Check your next collection day

or see a printable waste calendar

Find out how to get rid of all your unwanted waste and household items using our alphabetical guide (A to Z).

Mixed recycling guidelines

What can go in your mixed recycling bin

Paper and cardboard

advertising materials
books
boxes (flattened)
cardboard
cards and postcards
cartons
cereal boxes
deli/butchers paper
egg cartons
envelopes
glossy paper
juice cartons
junk mail
long life milk cartons (e.g. milk, stock cartons, plant based milk)
newspapers
magazines
manilla folders
match boxes
office paper
paper
paper bags
paper plates
paper towel rolls
paper/cardboard tubes
phone books
pizza boxes
scrap paper
take-away containers
telephone books
toilet paper rolls
washing powder boxes (flattened)
wrapping paper

Rigid plastic bottles and containers

Read more about which plastics can be recycled.

berry punnets
biscuit trays
bottles
cake trays
cooking oil bottles
condiment bottles
conditioner bottles
cordial bottles
cleaning product bottles
detergent bottles
deodorant roll-ons
food trays
ice cream containers
juice bottles
laundry containers
margarine containers
medicine bottles
meat trays
milk bottles
plastic lids
plastic plates
plant pots (empty)
shampoo bottles
soap pump bottles
soft drink bottles
spray bottles
takeaway containers
tomato punnets
plastic tubs
vegetable punnets
vitamin bottles
water bottles
yoghurt containers

Metal cans and foil

aerosol cans
- air freshener spray cans
- cooking oil spray cans
- deodorant spray cans
- hair spray cans
- inspect spray cans
- spray paint cans (empty)
- whipped cream cans

aluminium cans
- beer cans
- soft drink cans
aluminium trays (scraped clean)
aluminium foil, including Easter foil wrapping, with solid food removed (roll into a ball)
baby formula tins
food cans/tins
- canned fruit
- canned vegetables
- canned soup
- canned beans
- canned lentils
- tuna/fish cans
hot chocolate/drink tins
- milo tins
- coffee tins
- baby formula tins
jar lids
oil tins (empty)
paint tins (empty)
pet food tins

Glass bottles and jars

Leave metal lids on. Remove plastic lids and place in recycling bin separately.

beer bottles
condiment bottles and jars
cosmetic jars
glass bottles
glass jars
glass medicine bottles
soft drink bottles
jam jars
jars
medicine bottle
nut butter jar
oil bottles (empty)
pasta sauce jars
pickle jars
sauce jars
spirit bottles
vegemite jars
vinegar bottles
vitamin bottles
wine bottles

What can't go in your mixed recycling bin

We do not accept

Batteries
Recycling in plastic bags
Plastic bags
Soft plastic packaging eg. bread bags, chip packets, pasta packets, frozen peas packets
Cling wrap
Window glass
Mirrors
Drinking glass
Light globes
Pyrex
Polystyrene
Rubber
Tissues
Nappies
Syringes and needles
Wood
Textiles
Appliances / electronic waste
Food scraps
Green waste
Medical, chemical or hazardous waste
Waxed or soiled cardboard.

Please wrap Pyrex, white glass, mirrors, drinking glasses, light globes and ceramics in newspaper for safety and put these in your general waste bin.

How to fill your bin

Place items loosely in the bin, not in plastic bags
Scrape food solids into the FOGO bin.
Rinse bottles, jars and cans before placing in the mixed recycling bin - be waterwise and use washing-up water
Squash the air out of your plastic milk or soft drink bottles then place the plastic lid back on as this helps the lid to get through the sorting process
Tear and crush large cardboard pieces to save space and prevent them from becoming jammed in the bin
Do not overfill your bin, as this can lead to spillage and litter problems
Keep your mixed recycling bin under 40kg, or it may not be collected
Check aerosol cans are empty before placing them in the recycling bin.

Tips for recycling (videos)

Glass

Plastic

Cardboard

Request an additional mixed recycling bin

As a resident, you can also request a free second mixed recycling bin. Conditions apply so please contact Council on 1300 88 22 33 to check if you’re eligible.

Dual occupancies, units and flats

Some multi-dwelling developments have a 'share' system for their mixed recycling and FOGO bins due to storage and bin placement issues. This is determined on an individual basis by our Waste Management Unit.

What happens to the recyclable materials?

Once the truck is full it takes the recyclables to the VISY Recovery Facility in Springvale where a combination of manual (hand) and automated (machine) sorting separates the different materials.

Once sorted:

glass is made into new glass bottles and road base
paper and cardboard is recycled back into newspapers, packaging, toilet paper, insulation and building products
milk and juice cartons are recycled into writing and photocopying paper
plastic containers are made into textiles, trays, garbage bins and plant pots
steel and aerosol cans are used to make new cans, train tracks and building materials
aluminium cans are turned into new aluminium cans.

Download and view the below fact sheets to see how each of the recyclable materials are reprocessed into new products.

Please note: The fact sheets show a yellow lidded recycling bin as this is the National Standard colour that all Council's must move towards by 2030.

Accessibility

Our Rubbish collections in Easy English webpage gives you information that is clear and easy to understand. It is designed for people that find it hard to read, because of a disability or when English is not their main language.

Braille bin stickers

Braille bin stickers are available to residents who are blind or have low vision to help identify:

General rubbish bin
Mixed recycling bin
Food and garden organics bin

The stickers measure 10cm x 2cm and can be stuck to the lid, the side or front of the bin.

Stickers can be collected from Council’s customer service centres at Realm and Croydon. If you or someone you know needs a sticker to be posted, please email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au or contact us on 1300 88 22 33 or (03) 9298 4598.