Waste and Recycling A-Z

Please see Household Chemical Clean-Out

Please see Household Chemical CleanOut

Paper products, including newspapers, pamphlets and brochures, can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Please make sure that you have removed any plastic wrapping/bags before recycling them.

You can also drop off paper for recycling at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Fees apply.

Empty aerosol cans can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Leave the can intact (do not pierce or squash it). Take off the plastic lid before placing both the lid and can in the recycling bin.

Aerosol cans that still contain product can be taken to a free household Chemical CleanOut collection for safe treatment and disposal.

Air-conditioning units can be disposed of at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Fees apply (please refer to "Problem Wastes").

Please note: air-conditioning units containing refrigerant gases cannot be placed out for kerbside collection through Council's Bulk Waste Service. You can, however, drop off air-conditioning units at Summerhill Waste Management Centre using a self-haul voucher.

Aluminium cans can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. 

Clean aluminium foil can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin if it is scrunched into a ball first. If it is left unscrunched, the machinery at the sorting facility will mistake it for paper and direct it to the wrong area. For this reason, foil packets (e.g. chip packets) and foil wrapping paper should be placed in your general waste bin as they will flatten out in the recycling truck.

Aluminium foil that is soiled with food or oil should be placed in your red lid general waste bin.

Aluminium foil trays and pie plates can be placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Please make sure there is no food or liquid in them before recycling them.

Ammunition is a dangerous hazard to both the community and the environment. Under no circumstances should any form of ammunition be placed in any kerbside or public place bin.

Unwanted ammunition can be handed in at any police station or arms dealer for correct disposal.

Animal droppings, such as dog faeces and kitty litter, should be placed in your red lid general waste bin.

You may be interested in setting up a worm farm to specially compost pet droppings. There is a variety of information on this topic available on the internet, with off-the-shelf worm farms and pet poo composters available to purchase from a number of online retailers.

Dead animals, including domestic pets, are accepted at Summerhill Waste Management Centre. Fees and charges apply. For the disposal of dead livestock or large animals please refer to the procedures outlined in the Special or Offensive Wastes factsheet, which includes booking prior to arrival.

Please be advised that dead animals received at Summerhill are buried with other wastes on-site using heavy machinery. For pet funeral and related burial services, please contact a veterinary practice or pet cemetery.  

Deceased animals, such as cats and dogs, found on the road or or in a public place should be reported for removal by Council by calling 02 4974 2000. Council does not provide a service for removing deceased animals from private property; alternate arrangements will need to be made.

Please see Household Chemical Clean-Out

Please see Household Chemical Clean-Out

For disposal options for household appliances:

• Electronic waste (e-waste) for computers, televisions and small household appliances such as kettles, hairdryers and toasters.
• See Fridges and freezers.
• See Whitegoods for larger appliances such as dishwashers, ovens and dryers.

There are strict conditions associated with the disposal of asbestos. It should NOT be placed in any kerbside bin or mixed with other wastes. Disposing of asbestos in this manner is illegal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, know for its incredibly strong, fire resistant fibres. Because of these attributes, it was commonly uses as a building material up until 1985.

Incorrect handling and disposal of asbestos waste presents a large health risk to the community and the environment.

Requirements for the storage, transport and disposal of asbestos wastes are set out in the Protection of the Environment Operations Regulation. The legislation requires that arrangements be made with a landfill operator to accept the asbestos prior to its disposal and sets out how the waste should be handled and covered.

Specific conditions and procedures exist at Summerhill Waste Management Centre for the handling and disposal of asbestos waste, including 24 hours advance notification of delivery and presentation before 10am Monday to Friday. These conditions and procedures will ensure operations at the Centre comply with requirements of this Regulation as well as the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Please contact the Summerhill Waste Management Centre on 02 4985 6600 for information and bookings.

Ashes should be bagged and placed in your red lid general waste bin.

Small amounts of wood ash (i.e. unpainted and untreated wood ash from open fireplaces and wood stoves) can be added to home compost bins to help maintain a neutral pH. Care should be taken as too much ash can raise the alkalinity to levels not tolerated by some garden plants (e.g. azaleas, blueberries, natives). Ashes from charcoal barbeques or coal fires should not be used in this manner as they may contain substances that are harmful to plants, animals and the wider ecosystem.

Please see Batteries for information about the safe disposal and recycling of household, automotive and mobile phone batteries.

Bike Love Corral, located at the University of Newcastle and accessible to both students and non-students, provides a free recycling service for bicycles and parts/accessories in all conditions. They also offer bike fixing services. Visit the Bike Love Corral website for more information, including location, opening times and bike servicing fees.

You may also consider selling or giving away your unwanted bicycles on online trading sites such as Gumtree (free listing service) or Ebay (selling fees apply).

Bicycles are also accepted as scrap metal at Summerhill Waste Management Centre or through our bulk waste service. While the steel is recycled, the bicycles are not recovered for reuse.