Recycling

Below is a list of everything that is accepted in kerbside recycling (yellow lid bin) within the Snowy Monaro region. 

Cardboard 

Such as a cereal box, parcel box, packing box. 

• Boxes need to be flattened 
• Must be dry
• No food or oil marks (for example – a used pizza box) 

Paper

Such as newspaper, office paper, junk mail, and magazines.

• No food or oil marks (for example - a bakery goods bag) 
• No waxed, coated, or treated paper (for example - wrapping paper)
• No paper that is laminated with plastic 
• No shredded paper 
• Yes to coloured paper 
• Yes to paper with ink or pen marks 

Cartons

Such as alternate milk cartons, long life milk cartons, and popper or juice cartons. 

• Lids must be removed 
• If lids are smaller than a credit card they will need to be put in the red lid bin (general rubbish) 
• Cartons must be flattened 
• Popper/juice cartons and other eligible cartons can also be put through the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) return and earn to get 10 cents back per item. 

Glass

Such as jam jars, wine bottles, beer bottles, and sauce bottles. 

• Clear, green, or amber glass is accepted 
• Glass jars/bottles should be rinsed and the lids removed 
• If lids are smaller than a credit card in size they will need to go in the red lid bin
• No to glass plates, wine glasses, drinking glasses, and ceramics - these items CANNOT be recycled - If they are in good condition they can be taken to your local ScrapMart or Op Shops
• Broken glass CANNOT be recycled - it can be wrapped in paper and placed in the red lid bin
• Beer bottles and other eligible glass bottles can also be put through the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) return and earn to get 10 cents back per item

Aluminium or steel 

Such as baked bean tins, tuna tins, soft drink cans, aerosol cans, and aluminium trays. 

• All aluminium products should be rinsed where possible
• Aluminium lids can be placed inside of tins, squeeze the top of the tin so the lid does not fall out 
• Aluminium foil can be recycled as long as it is rolled up into a ball and around the size of your fist
• Aerosol cans can be recycled as long as the gas is removed and the lids are removed 
• Soft drinks and other eligible aluminium cans can also  be put through the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) return and earn to get ten cents back per item 

Plastic 

Such as take away containers, plastic jars, soft drink bottles, milk bottles, and shampoo bottles. 

• Plastic bottles, jars, and containers should be rinsed and liquid free where possible 
• Lids must be removed - if they are smaller than a credit card in size they must be put in the red lid bin 
• NO soft plastics can go into the recycling
• Plastic drink containers such as flavoured milk, soft drinks, and other eligible bottles can also be put through the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) return and earn to get 10 cents back

Plastic codes are a great reference to check if a product is recyclable. Here in the Snowy Monaro we accept plastic codes 1, 2, 3, and 5. 

More information on plastic codes here - Recyclopedia Plastic Codes Fact Sheet

Useful resources:

Download a Recycling Yes / NO Poster (PDF, 6MB)

Recyclopaedia

Recycle Mate App

Recycle Right

Recycling is an excellent way to help reduce the:

• volume of waste sent to landfill.
• amount of raw materials extracted from the environment, saving water, energy, natural resources and greenhouse gases.
• costs associated with waste disposal and the manufacture of new products.

In order to ensure the material that is collected in our yellow kerbside collection bins continue to be recycled, we need to keep it simple and keep it clean.

Follow the six Recycle Right messages below for using your yellow lid recycling bin:

• Keep it simple: only recycle paper and cardboard, steel and aluminium cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and containers.

• Keep out soft plastics: this includes all plastic bags, even if they have a recycling symbol, are degradable or compostable, and other soft plastics including cling wrap, chip packets and bread bags.

• Keep out small items: any items smaller than a credit card. All plastic lids now need to be removed from bottles and those smaller than a credit card put in your landfill bin.

• Keep it safe: keep out strapping, hose, netting, wires, building materials and other hazardous materials.

• Keep it clean: wipe or rinse any excess food and drink from all bottles, containers and tins before placing them in your recycling bin. Keep out food scraps, nappies and soiled paper

• Keep it loose: put each item into your yellow recycling bin separately, don’t bag, box or contain your recyclable items. 

You can print a Recycle Right poster for your school, workplace, or home - download here(PDF, 2MB)

Australasian Recycling Label

What is the ARL?

Australia and New Zealanders care about the environment and want to do the right thing. The Australasian Recycling label is designed to take the confusion out of recycling products with multiple materials.The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) is an evidence based standardised system that provides you with easy to understand recycling information for packaging of participating brands.It shows what needs to be done with each piece of a package to dispose of it in the best way. The ARL was designed by Planet Ark to remove recycling confusion, educate consumers and reduce contamination of recycling streams at kerbside.

How it works?

The label tells consumers how to correctly dispose of each component of the packaging, by doing so, it is possible to reduce contamination in the recycling bin and avoid extra costs that are caused by items that are not recyclable. It is the right label for the right bin. 

The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program will reduce waste by:

• Delivering a clear, well-understood label that will provide greater consumer clarity about what packaging can be recycled.
• Increasing the recovery of recyclable materials and reducing contamination in the waste stream.
• Helping brands to design packaging that is easier to recycle.
• Supporting businesses to inform consumers about the recyclability of their packaging.

NSW Container Deposit Scheme

Return and Earn is the state’s largest litter-reduction initiative and will help to reduce the almost 160 million drink containers littered in NSW communities every year.

To participate you simply take your eligible containers, that should be empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached, to your closest return point. You can visit the Return and Earn website to check drop-off locations.

You can still use your kerbside recycling bins for ineligible drink containers. You can also still place your eligible containers into the kerbside recycling bins or even donate them to local charities or community groups that are collecting them for fundraising purposes.

How it works

Simply save your eligible containers and take them to a Return and Earn reverse vending machine near you.

• Receive a 10cent refund per container
• Up to 500 containers are accepted in a single visit
• Refunds are paid by electronic transfers into nominated accounts
• Alternatively, a refund voucher can be printed for use at Woolworths
• Refunds can also be donated to selected charities
• Containers should not be crushed or broken and need their labels attached
• We suggest separating containers into plastic, glass, and metal groups before you go

The Return and Earn scheme is not a Council run scheme and we do not operate the vending machine. If you have a complaint about the scheme please contact Return and Earn via their website www.returnandearn.org.au.

What if the return point is filthy?

The Network Operator, TOMRA Cleanaway, regularly services over 600 return points across the state. Report an unclean return point by emailing customerservice@tcnsw.com.au or calling TOMRA Cleanaway on 1800 290 691.

Collection points

Bombala, Cooma and Jindabyne have sites ready to exchange eligible drink containers for a 10 cent refund as part of the NSW Government's container deposit scheme Return and Earn.

Bombala Powers IGA - The collection point is an over the counter (OTCs) site

128 Maybe Street, Bombala NSW

Open 8am - 12noon, seven days per week.

Cooma Woolworths Carpark - The collection point is a reverse vending machine (RVMs)

12-20 Vale Street, Cooma NSW

Open 7am - 10pm, seven days per week.

Lake Jindabyne Hotel Carpark - The collection point is a reverse vending machine (RVMs)

21 McLure Circuit, Jindabyne NSW

Open 8am - 6pm, seven days per week 

What E-Waste is accepted at our facilities? 

Electronic Waste (e-waste) fees

• E-waste under stewardship program - FREE 
• Without Stewardship program - $10 each 
• Commercial Quantities - $10 each 

White goods (e-waste) fees

• With verification of refrigerant removed - FREE 
• without refrigerant removed - $25 each 

For more Council Waste Facility fees and charges visit HERE(PDF, 5MB)  

Safe storage and disposal of batteries to prevent fires 

There have been a recorded 64 battery related fires so far in 2024. At a rate of 5.7 per week, which is an increase from the 2023 average of 5.2 per week. Residents are urged to safely and correctly store and dispose of batteries to combat the rise in house, garbage truck, and waste facility fires caused by batteries. 

The good news - batteries are 95% recyclable into other products.

Household items = E-waste and batteries

Lithium batteries can be found in many household items such as phones, tablets, toys, power banks, e-bike/scooters, cars, and appliances. E-waste does not belong in any bin

How to safely store and dispose of batteries 

• Cover the ends/terminals of used batteries with clear sticky tape or duct tape, to prevent sparking and reduce the risk of fire.
• Don’t keep batteries in a metal container or together with other metal object
• store batteries in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources.
• Always keep batteries away from children and pets. 
• Never place batteries in your kerbside, or public bins. 

Where can I take my batteries for recycling? 

Please note - batteries over 5kg must be taken to Community Recycling Centres or a Household Chemical CleanOut Event.

Jindabyne:

• Woolworths
• Jindabyne Council office
• Mitre ten (power tool batteries accepted)
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • D
  • 9V
  • 6V
  • Watch and button batteries
• Community Recycling Centre (Jindabyne Landfill, 6013 Kosciuszko Road, Jindabyne)
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • D
  • 9V
  • 6V
  • Watch and button batteries
  • Electric bike/scooter batteries
  • Car batteries
  • E-waste

Cooma:

• Woolworths
• Coles
• Aldi
• Cooma Council Office
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • D
  • 9V
  • 6V
  • Watch and button batteries 
• Community Recycling Centre (Cooma Landfill, 8448 Monaro Highway, Cooma)
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • D
  • 9V
  • 6V
  • Watch and button batteries
  • Electric bike/scooter batteries
  • Car batteries
  • E-waste

Bombala:

• Community centre/Library
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • D
  • 9V
  • 6V
  • Watch and button batteries
• Community recycling Centre (Bombala Transfer Station, 191 Bucky Springs Rd)
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • D
  • 9V
  • 6V
  • Watch and button batteries
  • Electric bike/scooter batteries
  • Car batteries
  • E-waste

Villages:

• Berridale council office
• Michelago bank of bins (BOB) 

What to do if a battery catches fire

If the device or battery starts to smoke or emit flames:

• evacuate the area and close doors if safe to do so to slow the spread of fire ensuring no one goes back inside the building for any reason. The vented battery gases, vapour and smoke are highly toxic and flammable and must not be inhaled.
• call Triple Zero (000) and wait in a safe location for firefighters to arrive.
• If anyone has been exposed to spilled electrolyte, flying debris, smoke or vapours, or flames, seek urgent medical assistance. Burns should be immediately treated with cool running water for 20 minutes. Burns larger than a 20-cent piece require emergency care. Treat with cool running water immediately, call Triple Zero (000), and follow the advice of the operator.

visit NSW EPA or B-Cycle Battery Recycling for more information on battery recycling.