Recycling FAQ
The following list of FAQ’s has been composed in response to questions from residents. If you do not find a satisfactory answer here, please email your questions to email@willoughby.nsw.gov.au or contact the Waste Projects Officer on 9777 1000.
See the A-Z of Recycling or the Planet Ark website www.recyclingnearyou.com.au for more information about recycling.
Q. Can I put items for recycling in plastic bags?
Please NEVER put recycling or green waste in plastic bags. Plastic bags are not recyclable - they clog the machines and cause contamination resulting in the whole load having to be discarded into landfill.
Q. Should I take the lids off the plastic bottles that I recycle?
This is no longer necessary - leave plastic lids on loosely so that when baled, the air can leak out of the bottle easily and the bottles can be crushed. This also decreases the risk of the lid flying off at a high speed and injuring someone. The lids will then be recycled along with the bottles. Do not put the lids into the recycling bin separately as they fall through the rollers at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and jam the machinery.
Lids on glass bottles and jars (including beer and wine bottles) can also now be left on when being recycled.
Ensure that all bottles and jars are empty – any liquid or food within a bottle or jar can spill and ruin other recyclable products. Also, the weight of a half-full container makes it more difficult for automated systems to recognise it as a recyclable item.
Q. Why can’t I put broken drinking glasses, window glass or mirrors in the recycling bin?
Kitchenware, mirrors and windows are made of heat-strengthened material and melt at a higher temperature than glass used for jars and bottles. This means that these materials will not melt during the recycling process and cause contamination of the finished product (5g of this material in 1 ton of glass is enough to contaminate the whole load).
Q. Why do I need to wash out my recycled bottles and cans?
Dirty recyclables attract vermin to your bin and can be unpleasant for workers at the sorting plant. Rinse out your recycling in your washing up water to conserve water.
Q. Can pizza boxes be recycled?
Pizza boxes that have no food residue can be recycled. However, if there are traces of food on the box, please dispose of it with your general rubbish.
Q. How do I dispose of compact fluorescent lights?
Compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) contain a small amount of mercury (about 5 milligrams) sealed within the glass tubing. CFL’s should not be discarded into landfill as the mercury can leak into the environment. The correct way to dispose of CFL’s is by recycling them – either at Council's Help and Service Centre or through a Chemical Cleanout event.
Q. What does the numbering on plastic containers mean?
The numbering within the triangle refers to the different types of plastic used to make up the container. The numbers are no longer relevant when it comes to recycling. All solid plastic containers from the kitchen, bathroom or laundry can be recycled through the yellow-lid bin. Even though some plastic bags have the recycling symbol and a number they are not recyclable through the kerbside system so please do not put them into the recycling bin.
Q. I missed the E-waste drop-off event. Is there anywhere else I can recycle my electronic material?
Willoughby Council aims to hold two E-waste events per year (check our website for updates). At other times residents can contact the companies directly for alternative recycling options. Visit the recycling near you website. Fees may apply.
Q. What can I do with my old batteries?
Single-use batteries, rechargeable batteries and phone batteries can be recycled for free at Council’s Help & Service Centre. Car batteries and single use batteries can be taken to the Artarmon Resource Recovery Centre at Lanceley Place (fees apply) or dropped off at the Office of Environment and Heritage Chemical Cleanout events (see www.cleanout.com.au for locations and dates). Rechargeable batteries can be recycled at Battery World, 5 Mitchell Road Brookvale (9939 2439) or 39 Church Street Ryde (9807 8582).