What can and cannot go in your yellow recycling bin

The yellow lid recycling bin does a lot of good work, but only when the right things go in it. When the wrong items sneak in, whole truckloads can be downgraded or sent to landfill. A little care at the bin goes a long way.

Yes, these belong in the yellow bin

• Paper and cardboard, flattened to save space
• Glass bottles and jars, empty and lightly rinsed
• Aluminium and steel cans
• Rigid plastic containers such as milk bottles, shampoo bottles and takeaway tubs

No, keep these out

• Soft plastics like bread bags and cling wrap, unless your council runs a specific program
• Bagged recycling, because loose items are what the sorting line is built for
• Food and liquids, which contaminate paper and cardboard
• Electronics, batteries and light globes, which need dedicated drop-off points

Batteries in particular are a genuine fire risk in trucks and sorting facilities. Drop them at a collection point instead, which you can find through B-cycle, Australia's official battery recycling scheme.

For anything unusual, the Planet Ark Recycling Near You tool is the most reliable place to confirm what your local service accepts.