What can I put in my bin?

If you can eat it or it is part of something that can grow, it is FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics). If you're not sure, you can check the list below.

What can I put in my FOGO bin?

• Council-supplied compostable kitchen caddy liners meet the Australian Standards of AS4736 and AS5810 and are coloured bright green (additional liners can be requested from Council free of charge)
• Fruit and vegetable scraps
• Meat and bones (raw and cooked)
• Eggs and dairy
• Seafood and soft seafood shells including fish, prawns and lobster
• Bread, pasta, rice, and cereal
• Nuts, grains, and seeds
• Desserts, pastries, and cakes
• Loose tea leaves and coffee grounds
• Plate scrapings and leftovers
• Newspaper (when used to line caddy)
• Tissues and paper towel
• Paper napkins
• Wooden items - toothpicks, skewers, icy pole sticks, chopsticks and coffee stirrers and cutlery
• Paper straws
• Human and pet hair
• Leaves
• Grass clippings
• Garden clippings
• Small branches and logs (up to 10cm in diameter and 40cm in length)
• Sticks and twigs
• Common weeds and flowers

What can't go in my FOGO bin?

• Compostable liners that don't meet both the Australian Standard AS4736 and not bright green in colour
• All food packaging including fruit stickers, elastic bands, and plastic wrap/cling wrap
• Compostable or biodegradable packaging
• Nappies and sanitary items including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable
• Animal waste and kitty litter 
• Textiles and fabric, including natural fibres
• Vacuum cleaner dust and washing machine/dryer lint
• Hard seafood e.g. oyster shells and clam shells
• Liquids including cooking oil and milk
• Teabags and coffee pods
• Treated and painted timber
• Ash, rocks, and soil
• Bricks and building materials
• Disposable baby and makeup wipes, including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable
• Plastic items and plastic bags
• Polystyrene
• Metals and wire
• Gardening items including plant pots, gardening tools, garden hoses
• Noxious weeds

Further information

• Your FOGO bin will be collected weekly.
• Ensure your bin isn't overfilled or too heavy and the lid can be fully closed.
• Collection trucks can lift bins to a maximum of 75kg. If your bin is too heavy or overfull you may receive a sticker on your bin notifying you that your collection could not be completed.
• Larger households, or those producing extra waste that cannot be avoided e.g. nappies or medical waste, can choose to order an additional bin. Additional fees will apply.

Further information

• Your recycling bin will be collected fortnightly.
• Ensure your bin isn't overfilled or too heavy and the lid can be fully closed.
• Collection trucks can lift bins to a maximum of 75kg. If your bin is too heavy or overfull you may receive a sticker on your bin notifying you that your collection could not be completed.
• Larger households, or those producing extra waste that cannot be avoided e.g. nappies or medical waste, can choose to order an additional bin. Additional fees will apply.

What can I put in my rubbish bin?

• Plastic packaging, food wrappers, cling wrap and other plastics that can’t go into your recycling bin
• Biodegradable and compostable bags
• Coffee cups and lids
• Nappies, wipes and sanitary items
• Polystyrene and foam meat trays
• Window glass, drinking glasses and bowls, mirrors and Pyrex
• Animal waste and kitty litter
• Cold ash from wood heaters
• Vacuum cleaner dust and washing machine/dryer lint
• Plant pots, broken hoses and gardening tools
• Coat hangers, clothing and textiles that cannot be donated
• Broken toys and household items (except those operated with a battery or power cord – see information on Electronic Waste (E-waste) for info on how to dispose of these items) 

What can't go in my rubbish bin?

• Food or garden waste that belongs in your FOGO bin
• Recyclable items that can be placed into your recycling bin
• Items that have a power cord or are battery-powered
• Batteries
• Bricks, rubble, timber, renovation material or hot ashes
• Paint, pesticides, oil or solvents
• Syringes
• Liquids, acids, hazardous or chemical waste

Find out how to dispose of hazardous waste.
Find out how to dispose of e-waste.

Further information

• Your rubbish bin will be collected fortnightly.
• Ensure your bin isn't overfilled or too heavy and the lid can be fully closed.
• Collection trucks can lift bins to a maximum of 75kg. If your bin is too heavy or overfull you may receive a sticker on your bin notifying you that your collection could not be completed.
• Larger households, or those producing extra waste that cannot be avoided e.g. nappies or medical waste, can choose to order an additional bin. Additional fees will apply.

What can't I put in any bin?

Some items are not permitted in any of your household bins because they are hazardous to people and the environment, or because they can damage collection equipment.

The following items are not permitted in any of your bins:

Batteries

Can be dropped off at Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, Bunnings or search for your nearest drop off location at bcycle.com.au

E-waste

Anything that is battery operated or has a power cord is banned from being put into rubbish or recycling bins. Drop off at your nearest waste transfer station (small fee for some items) or put out with your annual hard rubbish collection for special collection.

Household chemicals

Items such as oven cleaner, nail polish remover, insect spray, herbicide, rat poison, hand sanitiser, pool chemicals can be dropped off at a Detox Your Home event.

Gas cannisters

For disposal of gas canisters such as BBQ gas bottles, CO2 and butane canisters check the Hazardous waste disposal page.

Building materials, concrete, rubble and soil

Consider reusing or rehoming. Alternatively, these items must be taken to your nearest waste transfer station.

Other hazardous waste

Visit the Hazardous waste disposal page for more information.