Recycling
If you can't reduce or reuse, then recycling is your best choice. It helps our environment. Learn what can go in your recycling bin or taken elsewhere, like a drop-off centre. Use the Recyclopaedia as your go-to guide.
Recycling reduces waste to landfill and the demand for raw materials to produce everyday products.
Did you know?
Around 250 tonnes of recycling from the ACT and our surrounding councils is sorted each day at the Materials Recovery Facility in Hume.
Recycle right
Recycle these 5 things in your recycling bin:
- glass bottles and jars
- aluminium and steel containers
- plastic bottles and containers
- paper
- cardboard.
Find out how to recycle right with our Recyclopaedia. It's your go-to guide for sorting waste!
Recycling Discovery Hub
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Recycling Discovery Hub will be closed until further notice. Please contact the NoWaste team for any school and group enquiries.
ACT Container Deposit Scheme
Drop off your bottles, cans and cartons at a return point and earn 10 cents per eligible container. Claim the refund or donate it to charity.
Earn some cash while you recycle, reduce litter and save waste from going to landfill.
223 million containers have been collected through return points since commencement.
Most empty drink containers between 150 mL and 3 L are eligible for a refund:
- cans, such as soft drinks
- bottles, such as beer bottles
- cartons, such as flavoured milks
- juice boxes and poppers.
Milk, cordial and large juice containers, and glass wine and spirit bottles are not accepted.
Visit one of the 21 return points across the ACT via the ACT CDS website.
Recycling drop-off centres
The ACT has 5 recycling drop-off centres where you can recycle empty household containers and packaging for free. Just like your recycling bin at home.
This includes:
- paper and cardboard
- glass bottles and jars
- firm plastic containers
- aluminium cans and foil
- steel cans.
Find your nearest centre. Our centres are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Remember to recycle right. Don't drop off polystyrene, soft plastics, textiles, furniture or electronic appliances. CCTV cameras operate 24 hours a day. Fines apply for illegal dumping.
Recycling for business and community
It's possible to recycle a range of items, such as mobile phones, printer cartridges, computers, printers, televisions, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), whitegoods, batteries, metals, cooking oils and building materials. Check the Recyclopaedia.
Make recycling a daily part of your work, school or public event with the:
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.