Recycling (yellow) bin

Recycling bin with yellow lid

Your recycling (yellow) bin is collected once per fortnight on the same day as your general waste (red) bin, and on the alternate week to your food organics and garden organics (green) bin (FOGO)

Recycling is a great way to help the environment. Making things from recycled material uses less water and energy than making it from new materials.

It's important to only place acceptable items in your recycling (yellow) bin. Unacceptable items, such as plastic bags and food waste cause issues with the recycling trucks and sorting machinery at the recycling facility.

Check out this virtual tour at the Visy Recycling Facility to learn more about how your items are recycled. 

Find out below what items are accepted, and what items are not accepted in your recycling (yellow) bin.

Items accepted in your recycling (yellow) bin

NOTE: NO plastic bags or soft plastic packaging in this bin.

Keep your materials; empty, clean and dry.  Place your items in the recycling (yellow) bin loose, not in bags or boxes.

The following items are accepted in your recycling (yellow) bin:

  • aluminium - cans, foil, pie trays and tins
  • cardboard - boxes, cereal boxes, egg cartons, pizza boxes (food removed)
  • glass - bottles and jars 
  • paper - such as envelopes, junk mail, greeting cards, office paper, newspapers, magazines 
  • plastics - (hard plastics only) such as milk and detergent bottles, biscuit trays, margarine tubs, ice cream tubs. No soft plastics
  • steel - cans, tins, aerosol cans (empty) 

For a complete list of items and safe disposal options, refer to our Waste A-Z guide

Items NOT accepted in your recycling (yellow) bin

NOTE: NEVER put bagged recycling or general waste in this bin. 

The following items are NOT accepted in the recycling (yellow) bin: 

  • batteries and e-waste - (dispose of for free at the Melton Recycling Facility, major supermarkets and other participating locations)
  • coffee cups – (takeaway cups) - even those labelled recyclable must go in your general waste (red) bin 
  • crockery – cups, plates 
  • food scraps  
  • glass (broken bottles and jars only) 
  • light globes, drinking glass, pyrex, window glass, mirrors (these types of glass have a different composition to bottles and jars) 
  • long life cartons and tetra packs (juice boxes, long life milk) even if they have the recycling symbol on them, must go in your general waste (red) bin 
  • nappies, pads, tampons and sanitary items - must be bagged and placed in your general waste (red) bin
  • soft plastic packaging - plastic bags, chip packets, biscuit wrappers, frozen berry and vegetable bags
  • polystyrene - foam meat trays and boxes 
  • receipts – (these are made from a non-recyclable paper).  Ensure you shred or cut up receipts with personal information on them
  • styrofoam – large boxes should be broken down and bagged to stop beads from polluting the environment before placing in your general waste (red) bin  
  • textiles - clothes, shoes, sheets, bedding and towels (good quality items can be donated to local second-hand shops)
  • tissues, napkins, paper towel and wet wipes  

For a complete list of items and safe disposal options, refer to our Waste A-Z guide

FAQs

What happens to the contents of my recycling (yellow) bin?

The contents of your recycling (yellow) bin are taken to a recycling facility where they are sorted into material streams and sold to the manufacturing industry to create new products. 

Making products from recycled material uses less water and energy than making something from new materials and helps to conserve valuable natural resources. 

Check out this virtual tour at the Visy Recycling Facility to learn more about how your items are recycled.

How much is recycled each year?

Our residents recycle over 14,515 tonnes of household recyclables each year (Source: Melton City Council waste collection records as of 30 December 2025).

However, recent waste audits found that more than a third of the average recycling (yellow) bin contained items that could not be recycled.

The top contaminants and materials that cause major issues to trucks and processing at the recycling facility were bagged garbage, batteries, e-waste, long life cartons, soft plastics, takeaway coffee cups and textiles.

To help maximise the amount of material being recycled, it is important that you only use the recycling (yellow) bin for accepted recyclable materials.

For more information, check the Know Your Council website to compare Council waste diversion and fees. 

Why have I received a tag on my bin?

Melton City Council conducts a Bin Inspection Program to inform and educate residents on using their recycling (yellow) bin correctly.  

I received a sad face tag – If you received a sad face tag, this means one or more items in your bin were not recyclable, or your recyclable items were placed in a bag or box, rather than loose. Your tag should have the item(s) circled or written to show what was incorrect. You can look up the incorrect item on the Waste A-Z to find the correct disposal pathway. 

I received a happy face tag – Great work! You are a recycling star and have put all the correct items in your recycling (yellow) bin.  This makes it easier for the recycling facility to process and give items a new life.

To say thank you, you have been entered into a monthly prize draw,  If you are the monthly winner you will be contacted. 

What do the recycling symbols on products mean?

You can find out more about different product label symbols by visiting the Australasian Recycling Label website.

What is the container deposit scheme?

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) is an initiative that will provide a 10-cent refund to Victorians for every eligible drink container they return. 

This will help create a cleaner stream of material for recycling and reduce the number of bottles, cans and containers ending up in landfill or on local streets. 

How should I present my bins for collection?

In order to have your bins collected, please:  

  • place bins out by 6am 
  • do not overfill your bin (the lid must be fully closed, and weight limits apply; heavy bins cannot be emptied) on the day of collection 
  • ensure there is clear access to your bin (away from parked cars, trees and other objects) and bins are placed at least 50cm apart  
  • face bins outwards, towards the kerb on the nature strip in front of your property for collection (unless otherwise directed by Council)  
  • do not put unacceptable items into your bins 

Please ensure your bins are taken back in within 24 hours of collection. 

For details on your collection day, check your bin and waste collection dates