====== Waste and Recycling ======

There are [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling|several waste and recycling options]] available from North Sydney Council for residents.

The Council organises weekly [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/household-waste-information/2|household garbage]] and [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/household-waste-information/3|recycling]] collections (Wednesday nights), alternating [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/book-bulky-waste-pick|bulky household]] and [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/book-garden-waste-pick|green waste]] collections (Sunday nights), has a program with [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/recyclesmart|RecycleSmart]] for difficult waste items, and runs a walk/drive-in [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/community-recycling-centre-crc|Community Recycling Centre]] at Artarmon run in partnership with neighbouring Councils for e-waste, chemicals, and other difficult items.

There are also alternative methods for disposal or donation of items.
  * Before disposing of items, consider donating them to [[https://www.vinnies.org.au/get-involved/donate-goods|Vinnies]] ([[https://www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/shops/crows-nest|Crows Nest]] or [[https://www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/shops/north-sydney|North Sydney]]), [[https://www.redcross.org.au/shop/donate-clothes-and-goods/|Red Cross]] ([[https://www.redcross.org.au/places/retail-stores/crows-nest/|Crows Nest]]) or [[https://www.lifelineh2hsydney.org.au/donate/donate-to-our-shops/|LifeLine]] ([[https://www.lifelineh2hsydney.org.au/shop-with-us/our-shops/naremburn-shop/|Naremburn]]).
  * Consider returning eligible containers via [[https://returnandearn.org.au|Return and Earn]] ([[https://returnandearn.org.au/map|walk-in shop at Crows Nest, or other drop off locations in North Sydney area]]) for 10¢ a container – you can even make tax-deductible donations to charities!
  * Check out [[https://recyclingnearyou.com.au|PlanetArk]], which has lots of information about recycling.


Some important basics on the property:

  * **//If there’s a bin for it, use it!//** Don’t place loose/bagged materials/items in the bin area or out for collection (bagged and loose items [[https://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/waste-recycling/book-bulky-waste-pick/4|may be acceptable for fortnightly household waste collection]]).
  * **Note:** If the lidded bins are full, there are several small round unlidded bins for green waste in the bin area, and a small red-lidded bin and three large yellow-lidded bins under the building – please only use them for their stated purposes.
  * Please break down/fold cardboard containers/boxes and squash plastic bottles where possible to maximise space in the bins. Stack similar containers (say, plastic takeaway containers) to maximise space.
  * Food-contaminated items **//should not//** be placed in the yellow-lidded bins (this includes unrinsed disposable coffee cups and food tins).
  * Soft plastics **//should not//** be placed in the yellow- or green-lidded bins (including to bag recyclable items or leaf litter)
  * Bulky non-perishable items should, where practicable, be disposed of via the fortnightly household waste collection.
  * Fortnightly green and household waste collections **//must//** be booked on the [[https://cbs.urmgroup.com.au/council/northsydney_council/online/index/booking_details|North Sydney Council website]] by 4pm the day before collection (Sunday).
  * Animal/pet waste **//should only//** be placed in the red-lidded household bins.
  * E-waste **//cannot//** be placed in any bins or booked for collection in the fortnightly household waste collection – contact Sean (Secretary) about donation to the [[https://www.acms.org.au|Australian Computer Museum Society]] (they raise funds by selling e-waste), use the Community Recycling Centre at Artarmon, or find alternative disposal means.
  * Most modern light globes (compact fluorescent and LED) and batteries (both rechargeable and non-) //**should not**// be disposed of in the red-lidded bin. E-waste recyclers or the Community Recycling Centre can help you dispose of these.

A summary of the most common types of waste is below. Please refer to the links above for more comprehensive information (for example, RecycleSmart continues to expand [[https://www.recyclesmart.com/what-we-pickup|the list of items it will collect]]).

^  Type of waste  ^  Red Bin  ^  Yellow Bin  ^  Green Bin  ^  Household waste  ^  Community Recycling Centre  ^  Garbage Tip  ^  RecycleSmart  ^  Chemists  ^  Woolworths  ^  Coles  ^
| Perishable waste  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Soft plastics  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |
| Styrofoam  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Building materials  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Furniture  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| White goods  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| E-waste  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔(small)  |  ✘  |  ✔(mobiles)  |  ✘  |
| Paper/cardboard  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Glass  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Crystal  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Ceramics  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Soil  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Plant matter  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Flowers  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Plant pots  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Paint  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Chemicals  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Batteries  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✔  |
| Fluoro lights  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Motor oil  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Pet waste  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |
| Medicine blister packs  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✘  |  ✔  |  ✔  |  ✘  |  ✘  |