Think before you bin it: what goes in your red-lidded bin?
The red-lidded bin is for general household waste that cannot be reused, recycled, or composted – but some items should never be placed in any bin!
Batteries and electrical items do not belong in any kerbside bin. Many electrical products contain lithium-ion batteries, which can be damaged or punctured when waste is compacted inside a collection truck. Damaged batteries can overheat and ignite, creating a thermal runaway, resulting in a serious risk for waste collection workers, emergency responders, the community and the environment.
What belongs in the red-lidded bin?
Items that can go in the general waste bin include:
general household rubbish
soft plastic packaging
meat trays
nappies
takeaway coffee cups and lids
hygiene products.
While the contents of the red-lidded bin are sent to energy recovery facilities, the bin should only be used for items that cannot be reused, repaired, recycled, or composted. Avoiding waste and sorting it correctly remain the best options, helping keep valuable materials in use and reducing the amount of waste requiring energy recovery.
What doesn’t belong in the red-lidded bin?
Food scraps belong in the FOGO bin, while recyclable cans, bottles, containers, paper, and cardboard belong in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.
Batteries, e-waste, paint, and other hazardous materials must also be kept out of all bins. Electrical items can be dropped off for free at the West Metro Recycling Centre in Shenton Park, and batteries can dropped off for free to B-Cycle participating stores such as Bunnings, Woolworths, Coles, and other local stores.
Before disposing of larger household items, consider whether they could be repaired, sold, swapped, donated, or given away. The City conducts two bulk hard waste collections each year for large items that cannot be reused or repaired.
Residents can also book up to three bulk green waste collections each year. Smaller garden prunings can go in the weekly FOGO collection.
For collection details and more disposal options, visit the City’s bins, recycling, and waste page.
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