Whether you’re new to recycling or a zero-waste wizard, Brisbane City Council have recycling tips to help you take your recycling to the next level.

Boost your recycling capacity

Is your recycling bin always full or overflowing by collection day? If you live within the Brisbane LGA, you can upgrade to a larger recycling bin for free. These larger recycling bins have been ergonomically designed for easy use and provide an additional 100 litres of capacity for your household recycling.

Download the Brisbane bin and recycling app

This free app includes a bin collection calendar, so you never miss bin day, event listings for special waste events like free Household Hazardous Waste days, directions to Council’s resource recovery centres and more. Take a look at the A to Z guide to work out which bin to use for a variety of everyday items.

Consider a green bin recycling service

Green waste recycling bins are an easy and affordable way to recycle your garden waste, including lawn clippings, palm fronds, prunings and leaves. Collected fortnightly, garden waste is then taken to green waste recycling facilities to be processed into material for mulch and landscaping supplies. For less than $2 a week, charged quarterly on your rates, consider ordering a green waste recycling bin today.

The big five

Did you know there are five categories of recyclable materials that can go in your yellow top recycling bin? Knowing these five can help you identify recyclable items around the house. If it’s made from paper, cardboard, firm flexible plastic, metal (aluminium and steel) or glass, it can be put in your recycling bin at home. You can also check packaging and items for the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) to help identify how to correctly dispose of or recycle your items.

Recycle for free at resource recovery centres

Council’s four resource recovery centres located at Chandler, Nudgee, Willawong and Ferny Grove, provide free recycling for residents. Resource recovery centres accept over 16 different types of items that can be recycled, giving you more options when it comes to recycling your household waste and keeping it out of landfill. Check out the full list of acceptable recyclable items.

Consider options for reuse

While you’re at a resource recovery centre dropping off your recycling, you can donate quality items in reusable condition for free to be sold at Council’s Treasure Troves.

Brisbane’s two Treasure Troves are open every weekend and located at Acacia Ridge and Geebung. They sell quality used, recycled and second-hand products. The Treasure Troves are operated by the Endeavour Foundation who provide opportunities to people living with a disability.

Items accepted include household furniture, books, toys, sporting equipment and bric-a-brac. Just remember your items should be in good, fit-for-purpose condition, clean, free of stains and undamaged. Check out this guide to donating quality second-hand items.

Everyone has a role to play in recycling which helps reduce waste to landfill. So give recycling your best shot and help make Brisbane a cleaner and greener place to live.