Recycling

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.

As glass is made from only three natural ingredients – sand, limestone and soda ash – it doesn’t break down into harmful chemicals, making glass the most earth, ocean and animal-friendly packaging option.

Closed loop recycling system

Glass disposal

• Disposing of glass correctly ensures that it can be recycled and reused over and over again – infinitely.
• Glass bottles and jars can either be dropped off at Riverview or Rosewood Resource Recovery Centres or disposed of in your yellow lid recycling bin at home.
• Give bottles and jars a light clean if necessary.

Recyclable vs. non-recyclable glass

Not all types of glass are accepted for recycling. In order to keep recyclable glass pure, it’s important that you don’t mix non-recyclable and recyclable glass types:

*Remember that eligible containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.

Recycling aluminium and steel saves resources and uses less energy than producing these metals from raw materials. Aluminium can be recycled over and over again without losing its quality.

Steel and aluminium recycling items are sent to our recycling contractor in Brisbane, where they are processed and sent locally and overseas. The steel items are shredded and transformed into new steel products, while the aluminium is shredded and melted down to create aluminium coils.

Some of the common metal household items you can put in your yellow lid recycle bin are:

Steel

Aluminium

*Remember that eligible containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.

• Visit the Containers for Change website to find out more about the types of eligible containers.

If you can scrunch it in your hands, then it’s a soft plastic. This includes food packaging, plastic film, bags and bin liners.     

Soft plastics cause contamination and may lead to recyclable materials being sent to landfill. 

Soft plastics can be returned to some Coles and Woolworths supermarkets for recycling, please check your local stores for their soft plastic recycling bins. Otherwise, please put soft plastics in the general waste bin or avoid them altogether.

Hard plastics are sent our recycling contractor in Brisbane, where the products are sorted and bailed. PET and HDPE plastics are delivered to a recycling facility, where they are cleaned and pelletized for reuse in new food-grade containers.

Other plastic types are sent to third-party suppliers, where they are remanufactured into new products like plumbing pipes.

Hard plastics can also be recycled into new products, such as garden furniture, piping, and decking.

*Remember that eligible containers can be returned to Containers for Change for a 10 cent refund.

• Visit the Containers for Change website to find out more about the types of eligible containers.

Cardboard is sent our recycling contractor in Brisbane, where they sort and bail the cardboard before sending it to paper mills across Australia, where is it recycled and remade into new paper reels. These reels are then used to make new cardboard boxes.

Paper is sent to our recycling contractor in Brisbane, where they sort and bail the paper before sending it to paper mills across Australia, where is it recycled and remade into new paper reels.

Do I need to wash my plastic bottles and containers before placing them in the yellow lid recycling bin?

Food containers, pizza boxes and all other items need to be empty and have scraps removed before they go into the yellow lid bin. All that council requires for bottles and/or containers is for them to be empty. If you would like to give them a rinse to keep smells out of your bin that is okay.

Where does Ipswich’s recycling currently go?

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.

Can we upgrade our recycle bin to the larger 360L size?

Yes, residents with families of four (4) or more people can apply to upsize/upgrade their recycling bin to a 360-litre bin. To request a recycling bin upgrade, please call council on (07) 3810 6666.

Can I bag my recyclables?  

Please do not put recyclable items in the yellow lid bin inside plastic bags. Recyclable items that are bagged before going into the yellow lid bin may end up in landfill.  

Where do I find further information about what can and cannot be recycled?

View our ‘Let’s Get it Sorted’(PDF, 1MB) brochure for details on what items can go in each bin 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 the list, please do not place it in the recycling bin. Also, regularly check this page for updated information.

What number do I call if I have further questions about recycling in Ipswich?

Please call the Ipswich City Council Contact Centre on (07) 3810 6666.