Plastics that can go in the recycling bin

Only rigid plastic bottles and containers can go in your mixed recycling bin.

Flexible, soft plastics such as plastic bags or cling wrap can’t go in your mixed recycling bin.

See examples of what can and can’t go in your mixed recycling bin

The codes you sometimes see on plastic containers are not used to decide what can go in your mixed recycling bin.

What do the codes mean? 

These voluntary industry codes indicate what type of plastic resin is used in the product. See more about the plastics recycling codes on the Waster website.

They are no longer used to indicate if something can be placed in your mixed recycling bin, as sometimes a code represents both accepted and not accepted plastics.

There are also plastics that don’t have a code, but are still recyclable.

How can I tell what’s OK?

All empty rigid plastic bottles and containers from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry can go in your blue lidded mixed recycling bin. This includes items such as biscuit trays (not the outer wrapper), yoghurt containers, drink bottles, berry punnets and sauce bottles. See examples of accepted items 

Why can’t some plastics go in the mixed recycling bin?

Flexible soft plastics such as plastic bags and bread bags cause problems for the collection trucks and material recovery facilities:

  • they get caught in machines, which can cause equipment breakage and fires
  • they can contaminate the paper stream as the plastic has similar weight and colour.

See examples of items that are not accepted

Still not sure?

For further information on what can go in your mixed recycling bin, contact Council on 1300 88 22 33 or email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au

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