Learn more on how Ipswich City Council is delivering the Resource Recovery Strategy on Shape Your Ipswich.
You can now place your glass waste in the yellow lid recycling bin.
As council transitions to a new recycling program/campaign in line with the new Resource Recovery Strategy, recycling information will be updated.
Glass recovered through the yellow lid recycling bins is sent to our recycling contractor in Brisbane where it is sorted into various recoverable grades. The recycled glass is utilised in everything from new glass bottles and jars through to sand substitutes in roads and drainage.
Ipswich City Council's waste recycling program accepts the following five types of waste in yellow lid recycling bins:
- Glass: jars and bottles
- Metal: aluminium and steel (drink and aerosol cans, food tins)
- Plastic: bottles and containers (milk, soft drink and shampoo bottles, yoghurt/ice-cream tubs)
- Cardboard: boxes (including pizza boxes)
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, junk mail and office paper
Important: Recycle empty containers only, keep it loose and don’t bag it.
Recyclable items
Refer below for a list of recyclable items and the best place to recycle them. For more information about recycling please check out Council’s Recycling Brochure (PDF, 418.4 KB) and for information on recycling Household Hazardous materials click on the link.
Bathroom
Where to recycle your bathroom items (PDF, 23.0 KB)
| Material | Yellow lid recycling bin | Recycling & Refuse Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Aerosol cans (empty) | ✓ | |
| Shampoo / conditioner (plastic) bottles | ✓ |
Kitchen
Where to recycle your kitchen items (PDF, 28.8 KB)
| Material | Yellow lid recycling bin | Recycling & Refuse Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium trays | ✓ | |
| Aluminium cans | ✓ | |
| Cartons (fresh milk and juice) | ✓ | |
| Cereal boxes | ✓ | |
| Egg cartons | ✓ | |
| Fridges and freezers | ✓ | |
| Food cans (empty) | ✓ | |
| Pet food tins (empty) | ✓ | |
| Pizza boxes (empty) | ✓ | |
| Plastic bottles and take-away containers (rigid) | ✓ | |
| Steel cans | ✓ | |
| White goods | ✓ |
Garage
Where to recycle your garage items (PDF, 24.4 KB)
| Material | Yellow lid recycling bin | Recycling & Refuse Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Car batteries | ✓ | |
| Car bodies | ✓ | |
| Oil (motor / machinery) | ✓ | |
| Paint tins (wet, up to 20 litres per tin) | ✓ | |
| Scrap metal | ✓ |
Garden
Where to recycle your garden items (PDF, 23.9 KB)
| Material | Yellow lid recycling bin | Recycling & Refuse Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks/ pavers | ✓ | |
| Building waste | ✓ | |
| Rocks | ✓ | |
| Concrete | ✓ | |
| Dirt/ soil | ✓ |
E-Waste
Where to recycle your e-waste items (PDF, 23.7 KB)
| Material | Yellow lid recycling bin | Recycling & Refuse Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Computers | ✓ | |
| Electrical appliances | ✓ | |
| Mobile phones (including accessories) | ✓ | |
| Phone batteries | ✓ |
Print cartridges
Residents can drop off used or empty laser and inkjet cartridges at all Officeworks and participating Australia Post, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and JB Hi-Fi outlets. Check the vendors website for details.
Household batteries
Aldi supermarkets offer a free recycling service for household batteries in every Australian store. To dispose of used batteries, drop them into the dedicated bins at your nearest Aldi store. Any AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries (rechargeable and non-rechargeable) are accepted.
Battery World also offers a free battery recycling service for their domestic battery disposal. Charges may apply for businesses or community groups. The following types of batteries are accepted: lead acid batteries (e.g., batteries for cars, boats and motorbikes), mobile phone batteries, general purpose batteries (e.g., batteries for toys, calculators, rechargeable, and games).
Bunnings Warehouse have a battery recycling program which is free and easy to use. Their stores have battery recycling bins, making it convenience to drop of used batteries with confidence, knowing they will be recycled. The following types of batteries are accepted: all power tool batteries (e.g., drills, etc.), general purpose batteries (e.g., standard household batteries).
B-cycle is about creating a responsible battery lifecycle – from buying better batteries for the planet, to safe use, and convenient recycling. As a national, Government-backed Scheme, B-cycle brings together everyone from importers, to retailers, to everyday Australians, to give dead batteries new life. The Scheme is run by the Battery Stewardship Council, and authorised by the ACCC. There are thousands of drop off locations across Australia. Visit Bcycle.com.au to find a drop off location near you.
Other
Where to recycle your other items (PDF, 29.1 KB)
| Material | Yellow lid recycling bin | Recycling & Refuse Centre |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry detergent boxes (and scoops) | ✓ | |
| Envelopes | ✓ | |
| Magazines | ✓ | |
| Paper | ✓ | |
| Phone directories | ✓ | |
| Air conditioners | ✓ | |
| Beer bottles (or glass recycling stations) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Concrete | ✓ | |
| Compact fluorescent lamps | ✓ | |
| Farm drums (empty) | ✓ | |
| Steel | ✓ | |
| Timber | ✓ | |
| Tyres | ✓ |
Glass collection points
While glass is accepted in your yellow lid recycling bins, residents are still welcome to dispose of glass at a collection station. Find your nearest glass drop-off station.
Queensland Container Refund Scheme
- Queensland uses almost three billion beverage containers each year and most of these end up littering our beautiful state, despite the fact that drink containers can easily be recycled.
- On 1 November 2018 the State introduced its new container refund scheme Containers for Change, where most glass, plastic, aluminium, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L (displaying the special refund mark) are eligible for a 10c refund per container when returned to a designated refund point.
- Visit the Containers for Change website to find out more about the types of eligible containers.
Recycling FAQs
Q: Exactly what material types can be recycled by council?
A: There are five categories of materials which can be recycled through your yellow lid recycling bin as part of the fortnightly kerbside collection service. They are:
- Glass: jars and bottles
- Metal: aluminium and steel (drink and aerosol cans, food tins)
- Plastic: bottles and containers (milk, soft drink and shampoo bottles, yoghurt/ice-cream tubs)
- Cardboard: boxes (including pizza boxes)
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, junk mail and office paper
Q: Do I need to wash my plastic bottles and containers before placing them in the yellow lid recycling bin?
A: All that council requires is for the bottles and/or containers to be empty. If you would like to give them a rinse to keep smells out of your bin that is okay.
Q: Where does Ipswich’s recycling currently go?
A: It goes to Visy Recycling which is a materials recovery facility (MRF) for sorting and bailing and is then sent to Australian and overseas markets. Heavily contaminated loads may go to landfill.
Q: Why does it cost council so much to recycle?
A: Until recently, there was an overseas market for recyclable materials, but as tighter contamination controls were imposed by other countries, such as China, those markets have all but closed. This has driven up the cost for processing recycling and many councils now need to find new markets for these recyclable materials. At this moment, there are limited suitable options in Australia.
Q: Can we still upgrade our recycle bin to the larger 360L size?
A: Yes, residents with families of four (4) or more people can now apply to upsize/upgrade their recycling bin to a 360-litre bin.
Q: Do I leave lids on or off for recycling?
A: Leave lids off plastic milk and drink bottles and remove lids from glass bottles and jars and place lids in the recycling bin.
Q: Can I use a plastic bin liner in my recycle bin?
A: Plastic bin liners or plastic bags (to collect recyclable items) are not accepted in the recycling bin as they contaminate the load. Any recycling load contaminated with plastic bags is sent to landfill.
Q: Where do I find further information about what can and cannot be recycled?
A: View our Recycling Brochure and find further detailed recycling information on council’s Ipswich Bin App. Please focus on the items that are listed as being accepted in the recycling bin. If it is not on that list, please do not place it in the recycling bin. Also, regularly check this page for updated information.
Q: What number do I call if I have further questions about recycling in Ipswich?
A: Please call the Ipswich City Council Contact Centre on (07) 3810 6666.
Sort your waste with the Ipswich Bin App
Download the new Ipswich Bin App to find out what items can go into your recycling, general waste and GO bins. The app takes the confusion out of waste sorting so you can be confident your waste is going in the right bin.
The app also reminds you when your rubbish bin gets collected and if it's your recycling or GO waste week. To download, please visit the Ipswich Bin App page.
For more information on recycling contact the Council Contact Centre on (07) 3810 6666 or email council@ipswich.qld.gov.au