Specialist recycling options
The following items cannot go into your kerbside recycling bin but there are some specialist recycling options available - otherwise they belong in your general waste bin (red lid).
CDs and DVDs
These can be recycled at a drop-off point – the cases can be placed in your recycling bin.
Plastic beer clips
Can be recycled at various bottle shops.
Disposable plastic razors
Can be recycled via Terracycle
Plastic plant pots
These are made of a type of plastic that needs specialist recycling, so here's what you can do with them instead
Old and broken plastic toys
Give them a second life by recycling them at Big W stores for their Toys for Joy program.
Plastic milk bottle lids
These are too small to be picked up by recycling sorting machines. Here's where you can recycle them instead
General waste bin items
The following plastic items have to go into the general waste (red) kerbside bin, as there are currently no specialist recycling options.
Reusable plastic plates
If they are in good condition, consider donating them to a charity shop or passing them on via a group such as Buy Nothing.
Single use black plastic containers
Because of their colour, they’re not picked up by the machinery at sorting facilities.
Plastic Christmas decorations
If they're in good condition, donate them to a charity store, otherwise, they belong in your general waste bin.
Plastic coat hangers
Consider investing in wooden coat hangers instead.
Gift wrap, ribbons and bows (if they contain any plastic)
Reuse whenever you can, otherwise it's destined for landfill. A great alternative is to use paper products for wrapping gifts as these can be recycled.
Meat trays
For health reasons, meat trays must go into your red lid kerbside bin.
Plastic reusable food storage containers
Consider using glass storage containers instead of plastic.
Scrunchable plastics
Because the REDcycle programme has been paused, any soft, 'scrunchable' plastic must go into the general waste bin. Try making your own beeswax wraps instead of using cling film.
Plastic household hazardous waste containers
Any plastic containers that have contained liquids classified as Household Hazardous Waste (such as bleach, garden chemicals, insecticides, hair colouring products, motor oil etc), should stay out of kerbside bins altogether and taken to a specialist facility to be disposed of safely.
Visit recycleright.wa.gov.au for a comprehensive list of what can and can't go into your kerbside bins (depending on whether you have a 3-bin FOGO, 3 bin GO or 2 bin system) and for resources about what you can do with the stuff that can’t.
