A-Z of Waste & Recycling

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty aerosol cans can be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin (please remove the plastic cap and place this in your red-lidded residual waste bin).

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty aluminium cans can be placed into your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

To maximise your bin capacity, consider squashing aluminium cans before placing them in your bin.

Return and Earn

Your aluminium cans may be eligible for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Clean aluminium foil can be placed into your yellow-lidded recycling bin. Squash foil into a tennis ball sized shape to ensure it can be recycled at our facility.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Dirty or food-stained aluminium foil should be placed into your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Aluminium trays should be given a quick rinse to ensure they are clean before placing them into your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Asbestos can NEVER be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, skip bins, bulky waste collections, alongside roads or in other public spaces. This also includes fibre cement products, such as blue board or fibro.

Asbestos can ONLY be disposed of at licensed waste facilities. A list of licensed waste facilities that can accept asbestos for disposal is provided on the Environment Protection Authority’s website.

Disturbing asbestos while doing home renovations or development work can pose serious health risks to yourself and the people around you. Depending on the extent of these works, approvals may also be required from SafeWork NSW and/or Council. As there is NO safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres, it is recommended that you engage a licensed asbestos removalist to undertake any asbestos work and consult with Council and SafeWork NSW should you require information on approvals that may be required.

Visit SafeWork NSW to find licensed asbestos assessors and removalists in your area.

For more information on asbestos, visit Council’s Asbetos webpage.

Sell/ Give away

BBQs in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Book a free bulky waste collection

BBQs can also be removed as part of a bulky waste collection provided the gas bottle is removed. Gas bottles (empty or otherwise) cannot be collected in a bulky waste collection. To learn how to safely and correctly dispose of gas bottles see gas bottles and cylinders category.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Baking paper should be placed in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Batteries should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections.

Community Recycling Centre

Household and car batteries can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Household batteries can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off both car and household batteries for free.

Library Collection Stations

Household batteries can be recycled through Council's small collection stations at the following locations:

• Penrith Library - 601 High Street PENRITH
• St Marys Library - 207 Queen Street ST MARYS
• St Clair Library - St Clair Shopping Centre, Corner of Bennett Road & Endeavour Avenue ST CLAIR

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Clean and empty beauty and cosmetic products such as lipstick tubes, foundation packaging and mascara wands can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty aerosol cans and bottles e.g. hairspray cans and shampoo bottles can be placed into your yellow-lidded recycling bin. Please give empty bottles a quick rinse before disposing of them.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Non-recyclable cosmetic products e.g. cotton buds and make-up wipes can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Sell/ Give away

Bicycles in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Specialty recyclers

When sent to a specialty recycler, parts from bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters can be recovered for reuse.
For a list of drop-off locations that accept bicycles for recycling visit Revolve ReCYCLING. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Bicycles can also be collected as part of a bulky waste collection.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Plastic and cardboard biscuit trays can be placed in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Empty blister packs can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Pharmacycle drop-off points

Pharmacycle collection stations for blister packs can be found at a number of locations throughout the LGA. Visit Pharmacycle to find out more about the innovative recycling project and locate a drop-off point near you.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Blister packs can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Donate/ Sell/ Give away

Books in good condition may be able to be donated to charity, sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Books in good sellable condition can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Unusable books can be recycled by placing them into your yellow-lidded recycling bin after removing any metal bindings or plastic coatings.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Books can also be boxed in small quantities and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty plastic and glass bottles can be recycled by placing them into your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

To maximise your bin capacity, squeeze the air out of plastic bottles before replacing the lid and placing them in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Return and Earn

Some plastic and glass bottles may be eligible for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Metal lids and tops should be removed from bottles and jars before being placed in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Plastic bottle tops and lids can be recycled as long as they are still attached / screwed onto the bottle.

Bricks should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

See the building materials category for more information.

Reuse

Use bubble wrap to wrap and store delicate ornaments or dinnerware , or keep it handy to use when wrapping presents in the future.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Soft plastics such as bubble wrap can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Bubble wrap can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Bubble wrap can also be removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Building materials should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces. Building materials may pose a risk to the safety of workers and often make bins too heavy to collect.

Building materials includes items from construction, renovation and demolition like:

• Bricks
• Concrete
• Fencing
• Glass panels and windows
• Insulation
• Tiles
• Timber

For detailed instructions on how to dispose of asbestos please see the asbestos category on this page.

Waste from construction & development accounts for approximately 33% of all waste deposited annually in landfill. Of this material, 75% can be recycled and reused.

Specialty recyclers

For a list of businesses that may accept building materials for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Some items such as furniture, whitegoods and other household goods that are too big, too heavy or too bulky to be put in your household bins can be collected in a bulky waste collection.

Car parts & bodies should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections.

Specialty recyclers

For a list of businesses that may accept car parts and bodies for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Carboard without any tape, plastic film or staples can be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin (e.g. Tissue boxes, cereal boxes, etc.).
To maximise your bin capacity, make sure to flatten cardboard boxes before placing them in your yellow-lidded recycling bin. If you find you are still struggling with capacity, consider requesting a service change to upsize your 240L recycling bin to a 360L recycling bin.

Christmas Recycling Drop-Off

During the Christmas holiday period, Council hosts a two week household recycling drop-off event.

Specialty recyclers

For a list of businesses that may accept cardboard and paper for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Greeting cards, such as birthday or Christmas cards, that are made from paper or cardboard can go into your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Small rugs and carpet rolled into bundles no wider than 1 metre can be removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty cartons such as milk, cream and juice cartons can be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

To maximise your bin capacity, cartons can be squashed before placing them in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Return and Earn

Your cartons may be eligible for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn.

Community Recycling Centre

Loose CDs and DVDs can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Library Collection Stations

Loose CDs & DVDs can be recycled through Council's small collection stations at the following locations:

• Penrith Library - 601 High Street PENRITH
• St Marys Library - 207 Queen Street ST MARYS
• St Clair Library - St Clair Shopping Centre, Corner of Bennett Road & Endeavour Avenue ST CLAIR

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Loose CDs and DVDs can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Sell / give away

CDs & DVDs, in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

CDs & DVDs as well as their cases can be placed into your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

CDs & DVDs as well as their cases can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Chemicals cannot be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections. Chemicals can pose a risk to the safety of workers and your household if they aren’t disposed of safely and correctly.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a free Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off household chemicals for free. This includes chemicals such as:

• Acids and alkalis
• Ammonia-based cleaners
• Car and household batteries
• Fire extinguishers
• Floor care products
• Gas bottles
• Hobby chemicals
• Motor oils and cooking oils
• Paint and paint-related products
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Poisons
• Pool chemicals
• Smoke detectors
• Fluorescent globes and tubes

Community Recycling Centre

The Penrith Community Recycling Centre is open year-round and accepts household quantities of the following types of chemical waste:

• household and car batteries
• gas bottles and fire extinguishers
• light globes
• smoke detectors
• motor oil
• oil and water-based paint (up to 100L, stored in containers no larger than 20L)

The Community Recycling Centre does not accept any household chemicals other than the items listed above.

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals

For more information on how to safely dispose of agricultural and veterinary-related chemicals, visit ChemClear.

Donate/ sell/ give away

Child seat that are less than 10 years old, meet Australian safety standards (AS/NZS 1754), have not been involved in a car accident and are in good condition may be able to be donated to charity, sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Note: If buying a second hand child car seat, make sure to inspect the product in person before purchasing to ensure the seat is less than 10 years old, meets Australian safety standards, has no visible signs of wear and has not been involved in any car accidents. To find an authorised restraint fitting station to install or fit a child restraint visit https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=authrestraintfitting.form

Book a free bulky waste collection

Child car seats can be removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Christmas tree drop-off event

Real Christmas trees can be brought to Penrith’s annual Christmas tree drop-off event to be mulched.

Green-lidded FOGO bin

Alternatively, real Christmas trees and any stray pine needles can be placed into your green-lidded FOGO bin to be composted. Ensure trees are cut down into smaller segments so the lid of your bin closes comfortably. Overflowing or overweight bins may not be collected.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Fake Christmas trees can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin. Ensure trees are cut down into smaller segments so the lid of your bin closes comfortably. Overflowing or overweight bins may not be collected.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Real or fake Christmas trees can be removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Cooled cigarette butts can be placed into your red-lidded waste bin.

See the chemicals category for more information.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Clothing, shoes and other textile waste in good condition can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to the appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Donate/ sell/ give away

Clothing and shoes in good condition may be able to be donated to charity, sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

If clothing or shoes are in a bad condition, they can be placed into your red-lidded waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Clothing, shoes and other textile waste can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Clean and empty coffee capsules/ pods can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Specialty recyclers

For a list of businesses that may accept single use coffee capsules and pods for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Alternatively, coffee pods and capsules can be disposed of in your red-lidded waste bin.

To reduce coffee cup waste, bring a reusable cup with you when ordering coffee from your favourite café.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Clean and empty coffee cups and lids can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Simply Cups drop-off points

Simply Cups collection stations can be found at a number of locations throughout the LGA, including at Council’s Civic Centre Café in Penrith. Simply Cups accept all paper cups including coffee cups, slurpee cups and compostable plant-based cups. Visit Simply Cups to find out more about the initiative and locate a drop-off point near you.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Disposable coffee cups and lids should be placed in your red-lidded residual waste bin. These items should not be placed in your recycling or FOGO bin.

"Community Sharps" are needles, syringes, lancets, cannulas and other equipment resulting from medical care, animal health care or drug use. Sharps pose a high risk to workers and community members and should NEVER be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections, public spaces, toilets or down drains.

All sharps should always be kept secure and separate from other wastes.

More information on safe disposal of sharps including drop-off points can be found on Council’s Right Waste Right Place page.

Computers should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections. Where possible, computers and computer equipment should be reused or recycled.

Community Recycling Centre

Computers and other e-waste can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Electronic Waste Drop-Off Days

Council hosts a free Electronic Waste Drop-Off Day twice a year where you can drop off computers and other e-waste for recycling.

Sell/ give away

Computers and other computer equipment in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Concrete should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

See the building materials category for more information.

Green-lidded FOGO bin

Small amounts of cooking oil can be frozen and placed in your green-lidded FOGO bin.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off containers of cooking oil for free.

Sell/ give away

Crockery and cutlery in good condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Dispose of broken or chipped crockery and cutlery in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Glasses, cups, plates, cutlery and other crockery can be boxed and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

See the medical waste category for more information.

See the chemicals category for more information.

Your drink containers may be eligible for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn. Visit the Return and Earn page for more information.

Used or broken electrical items are commonly referred to as e-waste and should not be disposed of in household bins or street litter bins.

Community Recycling Centre

E-waste can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Electronic Waste Drop-Off Days

Council hosts a free Electronic Waste Drop-Off Day twice a year where you can drop off electrical items for recycling.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Small e-waste items such as digital cameras, laptops, kettles, charging cords, etc. can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Sell/ give away

Electrical appliances in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Electrical items can be removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

See the motor oil category for more information.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Plain and windowed envelopes can be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Fabric and other textile waste in good condition can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to the appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Sell/ give away

Fabric in good condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Fabric in poor condition can be placed into your red-lidded waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Fabrics can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Disposable face masks can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

See the light globes and bulbs category for more information.

Fire extinguishers and other gas cylinders should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

Community Recycling Centre

Fire extinguishers can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Green-lidded FOGO bin

All food leftovers/scraps, including fish, meat, bones, tea bags, fruit and vegetables can be placed in the green-lidded organics bin. Please only use the council-supplied green compostable bags in the green-lidded organics bin. Plastic bags do not break down in the composting process.

The council-supplied bags are delivered four times a year to households on the 3-bin service. Additional bags can be picked up free of charge from any of Council's offices or libraries:

• Penrith Office and Library - 601 High Street PENRITH
• St Marys Office and Library - 207 Queen Street ST MARYS
• St Clair Library - St Clair Shopping Centre, Corner of Bennett Road & Endeavour Avenue ST CLAIR

Book a free bulky waste collection

Fridges and other whitegoods can be removed for metal recycling as part of a bulky waste collection.

Sell/ give away

Usable furniture in good condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Broken or unusable furniture can be removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

IKEA Used Furniture Buy Back Scheme

Used IKEA furniture in good condition may be able to be returned to IKEA stores to be resold. For more information visit the IKEA Buy Back webpage.

Garden chemicals includes herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals used to treat plants. See the chemicals category for more information on how to safely dispose of these items.

Green-lidded FOGO bin

All garden clippings & trimmings (including garden vegetation, grass clippings, twigs, weeds and flowers) can be placed into the green-lidded organics bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Excess or bulky garden vegetation can be removed as part of a bulky waste collection. Please box any grass clippings or garden trimmings. Individual branches mustn't be larger than 10cm in diameter or 1.2m in length and should be bundled and tied together into manageable loads.

Gas bottles and cylinders should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

Community Recycling Centre

Gas bottles and cylinders extinguishers can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off both car and household batteries for free.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Glass bottles and jars can be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Please do not place glass items such as light bulbs, drinking glasses, pyrex, fishtank glass or window glass in your yellow-lidded recycling bin. These items cannot be recycled through the yellow-lidded bin.

Return and Earn

Your glass bottles may be eligible for the NSW Government’s Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn.

See the building materials category for more information.

See the crockery and cutlery category for more information.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Eye-glasses can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to the appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Recycle for Sight Australia

The Lions Club’s Recycle for Sight program collects unwanted reading, sight or sunglasses in good condition to help the vision of disadvantaged children and adults all around the world. For more information visit Recycle for Sight Australia.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Broken or damaged glasses can be placed in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Disposable gloves can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

See the garden clippings and trimmings category for more information.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty plastic hand sanitiser bottles can be recycled by placing them into your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

See the electrical appliances category for more information.

See the chemicals category for more information.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty ice cream containers can be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. Please give containers a quick rinse before placing them in your bin.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Ink and printer cartridges can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Specialty recyclers

Ink and printer cartridges can be recycled through dedicated drop-off points.

For a list of businesses that may accept ink cartridges for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Insulation should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces. See the building materials category for more information.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Crystal and other types of kitty litter should be placed in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Light bulbs, globes should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections.

Community Recycling Centre

Light bulbs, globes and tubes can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Light globes and bulbs can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off light bulbs, globes and tubes for free.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Linen, manchester and other textile waste in good condition can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to the appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Sell/ give away

Linen and manchester in good condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Linen and manchester in poor condition can be placed into your red-lidded waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Linen and manchester can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Magazines can be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Magazines can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Empty, clean makeup and cosmetics packaging (eg. foundation, mascara and lipstick tubes) can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Cosmetics packaging can be placed into your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Mattresses can be removed for recycling as part of a bulky waste collection (limit of 4 per collection).

Sell/ Give away

Mattresses in very good condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Green-lidded FOGO bin

Any leftover meat, off-cuts or bones can be placed into your green-lidded FOGO bin to be commercially composted.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty plastic meat trays can be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. Please give plastic trays a quick rinse before placing them in your bin.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Foam or polystyrene meat trays should be placed in the red-lidded residual waste bin.

Medical waste includes items from medical procedures and ongoing treatments such as dialysis equipment, tubes, swabs, padding and sharps.

Sharps should never be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections, public spaces, toilets or down drains. For more information on how to dispose of sharps safely see community sharps category.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Medical waste other than sharps can be placed in the red-lidded residual waste bin, which is sent straight to landfill. Please dispose of any bodily fluids in the toilet (septic system) before disposing of medical waste.

Storage of unwanted or out of date medicines in the home can be dangerous and unsafe disposal can lead to environmental damage.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Expired and unwanted medicines can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate disposal facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Return Unwanted Medicines Project

Expired and unwanted medicines can be dropped off to most chemists and community pharmacies for free as part of the Return Unwanted Medicines Project.

Specialty recyclers

Metal is highly recyclable, and many businesses take scrap metal for recycling. Scrap metal includes materials such as aluminium, brass, cast iron, copper, lead, nickel, stainless steel, and zinc.

For a list of businesses that may accept scrap metal for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Metal appliances and goods like bicycles, BBQs and furniture can be removed for recycling as part of a bulky waste collection.

Did you know that replacing stolen milk crates costs Australian farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year? If you have any milk crates, please call Dairy Farmers on 1800 677 852 (or the number on the crate) to arrange collection.

Sell/ Give away

Mirrors in good condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Small broken mirrors can be disposed of in the red-lidded residual waste bin.

Community Recycling Centre

Mobile phones can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Library Collection Stations

Mobile phones can be recycled through Council's small collection stations at the following locations:

• Penrith Library - 601 High Street PENRITH
• St Marys Library - 207 Queen Street ST MARYS
• St Clair Library - St Clair Shopping Centre, Corner of Bennett Road & Endeavour Avenue ST CLAIR

Electronic Waste Drop-Off Days

Council hosts a free Electronic Waste Drop-Off Day twice a year where you can drop off mobile phones and other e-waste for recycling.

Sell/ give away

Mobile phones in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Cloth nappies are a great alternative to disposable nappies which reduce waste and can save families money in the long run. Check out Council’s Supporting Sustainable Choices Scheme for more information on cloth nappies and reusable nappy products.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Disposable nappies should be placed in your red-lidded residual waste bin. Nappies (including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable) must not be placed in your recycling or FOGO bin.

Motor oil should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections.

Community Recycling Centre

Motor oil can be dropped off at Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off motor and other oils for free.

Needles should never be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections, public spaces, toilets or down drains.

For more information on how to dispose of needles safely see the Community Sharps category.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Alternatively, newspaper can be recycled through your yellow-lidded recycling bin.

Paint should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections.

Community Recycling Centre

The Penrith Community Recycling Centre is open year-round and accepts household quantities of oil and water-based paint (up to 100L, stored in containers/ tins no larger than 20L)

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a free Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off household quantities of oil and water-based paint for free.

Yellow-lidded Recycling bin

Paper and paper products can be recycled by placing them in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. This includes:

• Note paper
• Printer paper
• Junk mail
• Wrapping paper
• Newspaper
• Magazines
• Envelopes (including window-faced)

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Plastic bags can be collected from your doorstep and be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Plastic bags can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Plastic packets are items made from soft plastics such as chip packets, muesli bar wrappers, lolly bags, frozen vegetable packets and chocolate wrappers.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Plastic bags can be collected from your doorstep and be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Plastic wrappers can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Community Recycling Centre

Clean, plain white pieces of polystyrene bigger than packaging peanuts can be dropped off for recycling at Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free. Please ensure to remove any dirt, dust, sticky tape or labels from any polystyrene pieces before dropping them off.

Coloured or dirty pieces of polystyrene and small polystyrene fragments like bean bag filling or foam packing peanuts will not be accepted at the Community Recycling Centre.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Clean, plain white pieces of polystyrene bigger than foam packaging peanuts can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Polystyrene items such as meat trays and packaging can be disposed of in the red-lidded residual bin. Polystyrene and foam must not be placed in your recycling or FOGO bin.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Rapid Antigen Tests can be placed in the red-lidded residual waste bin. Dispose of tests according to information provided with the test instructions. Some tests come with a plastic bag to place the contents of the test into (including the swab). This bag should then be placed into another bag for disposal into the red-lidded residual bin. Test kit materials are not recyclable. If no bags are provided you can place the used items from the test into a small plastic bag that can be sealed. This bag should be put into another bag that can be sealed and disposed of in the red-lidded residual bin.  Wash your hands carefully after completing the test and disposing of the test kit contents.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Razors can be disposed of in the red-lidded residual bin.

Sharps should never be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections, public spaces, toilets or down drains.

For more information on how to dispose of sharps safely see the community sharps category.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Some types of shoes can be collected from your doorstep to be recycled through the Tread lightly program as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Types of shoes that can be recycled through RecycleSmart and Tread Lightly include:

• Athletic Lifestyle Shoes
• Any Sport Branded Shoes
• Thongs and Slides
• Football Boots
• Trainers
• Runners
• Golf Shoes

Donate/ sell/ give away

Shoes in good condition may be able to be donated to charity, sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

If shoes are in a bad condition, they can be placed into your red-lidded waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Shoes and other textile waste can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Smoke alarms should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins or bulky waste collections.

Community Recycling Centre

Smoke alarms can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Smoke alarms and detectors can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Chemical CleanOut events

Council hosts a Chemical CleanOut event once a year where you can drop off smoke alarms for free.

Soft plastics are common household packaging items like chip packets, bread bags, plastic bags, and cling wrap. Unlike other plastic items, when scrunched soft plastics don't immediately ‘spring’ back to their original shape.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

A combination of soft plastic materials can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Soft plastics can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

Sell/ give away

Solar panels in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Specialty Recyclers

Reclaim PV in partnership with Ecoactiv collects and recycles most types of solar panels for a per panel fee. For more information and to book a collection visit the Ecoactiv website.

Syringes should never be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections, public spaces, toilets or down drains.

For more information on how to dispose of syringes safely see the community sharps category.

Take-away containers come in a range of different materials from plastic to foam or polystyrene. The type of material a container is made from determines which bin it should be placed in.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Plastic takeaway containers can be recycled by placing them in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. Please ensure containers are empty and given a quick rinse before putting them into the bin.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Foam or polystyrene takeaway containers can only be put into the red-lidded residual waste bin. Plastic straws and cutlery should also be disposed of in your red-lidded bin.

Green-lidded FOGO bin

Tea leaves can be placed into your green-lidded FOGO bin to be composted.

Community Recycling Centre

Televisions can be recycled through Penrith Community Recycling Centre year-round for free.

Electronic Waste Drop-Off Days

Council hosts a free Electronic Waste Drop-Off Day twice a year where you can drop off televisions and other e-waste for recycling.

Sell/ Give away

Televisions in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Tiles should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

See the Building Materials category for more information.

Timber should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

See the building materials category for more information.

Donate/ Sell/ Give away

Toys in good condition may be able to be donated to charity, sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Toys for Joy

Some Big W stores accept used toys for recycling. Visit Toys for Joy to locate your nearest drop-off point and find out more about the initiative, including what type of toys are accepted.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Toys in good sellable condition can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Toys in poor condition can be placed into your red-lidded waste bin.

Book a free bulky waste collection

Toys can also be boxed or bagged and removed as part of a bulky waste collection.

Abandoned or stolen shopping trolleys can be reported online.

Woolworths, Big W and Dan Murphy’s trolleys can be reported on the Trolley Tracker website.

Coles and 1st Choice Liquor trolleys can be reported on the Coles website.

ALDI trolleys can be reported on the ALDI website.

Tyres should not be disposed of in household bins, street litter bins, bulky waste collections or public spaces.

Specialty recyclers

When sent to a specialty recycler, tyres can be recycled into many new products. Various uses of recycled tyres include their use in retreadable casing, tyre derived fuel in cement industry, or use in constructions of speed bumps and playground equipment.

For a list of businesses that may accept tyres for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Book a free bulky waste collection

White goods such as fridges, washing machines and dryers can be removed for recycling as part of a bulky waste collection.

Sell/ Give away

White goods in a usable condition may be able to be sold or given away. Try listing your items on an online marketplace to find them a new home.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Disposable baby wipes and sanitiser wipes can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

Plastic wrappers can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Red-lidded residual waste bin

Plastic wrappers can be disposed of in your red-lidded residual waste bin.

X-ray films contain silver which can be recovered. The films are heated to over 1,000° Celsius, the silver is extracted and purified. The silver can then be reused for things such as silver solder, jewellery, the silver plating of utensils, electrical components and film manufacture.

RecycleSmart Power Pickup

X-ray films can be collected from your doorstep to be sent to an appropriate recycling facility as part of a RecycleSmart Power Pickup.

Specialty recyclers

For a list of businesses that may accept x-rays for recycling, visit RecyclingNearYou. Council recommends you call any listed business ahead of time to confirm their location and opening hours as well as whether there are any costs associated with dropping off your materials.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin

Empty yoghurt tubs and containers can be placed in the yellow-lidded recycling bin. Please give tubs a quick rinse before placing them in your bin.