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What can I recycle?

The green 240L recycling bin is for your loose recycling items (ie paper, cardboard, steel and aluminium cans, milk and juice cartons, glass bottles and jars and most plastic containers).

All collected recyclables are sorted by hand at the Albany Materials Recovery Facility on Hanrahan Road. This facility is unable to process plastic bags so it is crucial you do not ‘bag’ your recyclables before placing them in the bin. Flatten cardboard and give bottles and jars a quick rinse and remove lids prior to placing them loosely in the bin. This advice is the same for residents who do not receive a kerbside collection and deposit their recyclables at the transfer stations.

Refer to the 2025/2026 Kerbside and Recycling Collection Calendar.

These guidelines outline what can be recycled, including:

  • Paper, magazines, cardboard and cartons (no waxed cardboard)
  • Remember to flatten cardboard boxes and carton
  • Plastic bottles and containers if numbered 1, 2, 3 and 5.
  • No plastic bags, plastic food wrapping, cling film or polystyrene foam
  • Remember to rinse all bottles and remove lids
  • Steel and aluminium cans
  • No other metal household items such as car parts wire or gas bottes
  • Remember to rinse off any food and remove plastic lids and nozzles
  • Glass jars and bottles
  • No other glass products such as crockery, ceramics, glasses, window glass or light globes
  • Remember to give them a quick rinse and remove lids.

The following items CANNOT be placed in the recycling bin:

  • Household food scraps. Compost them instead.
  • Clothing and toys. If in good condition, donate them to the O’Neill Road Tip Shop.
  • Needles and syringes. These MUST be placed in an official sharps container, which is securely closed, and placed in the household rubbish bin.
  • Crockery, ceramics and porcelain. Wrap all broken items in newspaper and place in the household rubbish bin. If in good condition, donate to an op-shop or the O'Neill Road Tip Shop. 
  • Animal waste and kitty litter. Wrap and place in the household rubbish bin.
  • Nappies, Wrap and place in the household rubbish bin.
  • Polystyrene. Place in the household rubbish bin.
  • Rubber and leather. Place in the household rubbish bin.
  • Timber. Deposit at your nearest transfer station that accepts green waste.

Garden refuse, clippings, mulch and leaves can be reused as mulch on your garden, composted or deposited at your nearest transfer station that accepts green waste.

Only steel and aluminium cans, and clean aluminium foil rolled into a ball of at least 5cm should go in your recycling bin. Please DO NOT put other metal items in your recycling bin. They can damage machinery in the recycling facility and pose a hazard to staff.

Deposit other metal items such as saucepans, washing machines and stainless steel appliances at the O'Neill Road Tip Shop re-using if they are in good condition or deposit in the scrap metal pile where they will be recycled.

It is important to ensure only recyclable items are paced in the recycling bin. Placing incorrect items in the bin is called ‘contamination’. Contamination causes problems during the sorting phase. It also affects the ability of the item to be processed into a new product. In some cases, a few contaminated bins can ruin an entire truckload and result in it all going to landfill.

Your recycling in action

All recycling collected as a part of the kerbside collections or that is deposited at the transfer stations is processed at the Albany Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

The following video shows what happens to these recyclable materials once they reach the MRF. If you would like to see some more of the MRF in action and learn more about how to help Cleanaway maximise the waste that they recycle call Cleanaway on 1300 784 468 to arrange a tour.

Other recycling programs

All types and brands of printer cartridges can be recycled via the ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’ recycling box located at the Mount Barker Post Office.

All common alkaline batteries and the NiCad, NiMH or Li-ion rechargeable batteries can be recycled. A battery collection box is available at the front desk of the Shire Administration Centre in Mount Barker. Batteries can also be handed to the tip operators at each of the transfer stations.

All mobile phones, mobile phone batteries, handsets, accessories and chargers can be recycled as a part of the Mobile Muster program. A Mobile Muster collection box is available at the front desk area of the Administration Centre in Mount Barker.