What can go in your bins
On this page:
General waste (red) bin
Your general waste bin (red lid) is for any items that cannot be recycled through your recycling bin, food and garden waste bin or other recycling services.
- Plastic bags and all other soft plastics
- Food wrappers, fruit stickers
- Nappies, wet wipes, sanitary items
- Pet waste, cat litter (even if labelled compostable)
- Glassware – broken cups, plates, Pyrex, mirrors and drinking glasses (must be wrapped)
- Takeaway coffee cups, lids, straws
- Clothing, fabric and textiles – find out where to donate and recycle clothing
- Polystyrene, packing foam, and foam beans or balls
- Toys (excluding electronic toys)
- Long life milk and juice cartons
- Garden hoses
- Smoke alarms – household smoke alarms only (do not crush the smoke alarm)
Recycling (yellow) bin
You can dispose paper and cardboard, hard plastic containers, glass bottles and jars, and some metal items through your recycling bin.
Hard plastic bottles and containers
- Milk bottles
- Soft drink bottles
- Ice cream tubs and lids
- Takeaway containers and lids
- Laundry and bathroom bottles
Paper and cardboard
- Office paper
- Envelopes
- Egg cartons
- Newspapers and magazines
- Pizza boxes (must be empty)
- Clean paper towel and napkins
Glass bottles and jars
Metal items
- Cans – should be empty, but they don't need to be totally clean
- Tins – should be empty, but they don't need to be totally clean
- Foil trays – should be empty, but they don't need to be totally clean
- Aluminium foil – rolled as large as a golf ball
- Aerosol cans – make sure they're empty and remove plastic cap
How to recycle e-waste
E-waste should not go in your bins, but you can recycle it.
Electronic waste (e-waste) is anything that has a plug, battery or power cord and is no longer wanted or working. This includes mobile phones, digital cameras, computers, tablets, household appliances, power tools and electronic toys.
Learn more about recycling e-waste
Food and garden bin
Your food and garden waste bin (green lid) is for food scraps, garden prunings and some organic material. You can use a kitchen caddy to collect food scraps before emptying it into your green bin.
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Citrus, onion and garlic
- Coffee grounds and loose tea leaves
- Egg shells
- Used paper towel and newspaper (for wrapping loose food)
- Bread, pasta and cereal
- Cheese
- Meat and bones
- Seafood
- General leftovers
Find out more about your food and garden waste bins
Your free kitchen caddy
As a resident of Darebin, each household paying the waste charge is entitled to a kitchen caddy to help you collect and recycle your food scraps. When it’s full, just empty it into your green lidded bin.
Council’s food waste processor (Veolia) does not accept compostable/biodegradable bags. Biodegradable/compostable products, including caddy liners, do not break down in the system used at the facility.
If you do not have a kitchen caddy and you receive Darebin Council waste and recycling services, please visit our Preston Customer Service Centre during business hours to pick one up.
More information
Customer Service
Call: 03 8470 8888
Email: mailbox@darebin.vic.gov.au