Recycling rules are consistent across all local governments in Perth 

For all councils in the Perth Metropolitan Area there is a consistent list of what can and can’t be recycled in your yellow lid bin. These changes are part of an effort to reduce contamination and make recycling easier for everyone. We have a range of resources including poster and brochure as well as workshops to help you with the changes. For more information email community@wmrc.wa.gov.au

What does this mean for you?

All recycling facilities in WA can NOT accept the following items in the yellow-lid recycling bin:

Soft ‘scrunchable’ plastics

Please put all soft plastics into your red lid general waste bin.  Plastic bags, cling wrap, bubble wrap, lolly wrappers, chip packets, cereal bags and other soft, scrunchable plastics get mixed up with bales of paper and cardboard at the recycling facilities, making them hard to sell.  REDcycle collections from major supermarkets are currently paused. You can help by purchasing less soft plastic, choosing items with minimal packaging, using reusable bags and contacting producers to request that they minimise unnecessary packaging.

Aerosol cans

Aerosol cans are hazardous as they generally contain residual flammable liquids, which can cause fires and explosions at the recycling facility. Please take aerosols to the West Metro Recycling Centre  located on the corner of Brockway Road and Lemnos Street, Shenton Park. They will be sent off for recycling through the WMRC’s Household Hazardous Waste program.

Meat trays

Due to contamination of meat trays and the mixture of materials used to make them, they should be placed in your general waste bin. Consider buying your meat from a butcher where purchases are wrapped in paper or try taking your own reusable container.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is light and bulky, making it uneconomical to recycle through the kerbside recycling bin. Bulk polystyrene is only recyclable via specialist recycling and can be dropped off at the West Metro Recycling Centre for free by Member and Participating Council residents.

Coffee Cups

Take-away coffee cups and lids are unable to be recycled in WA. Try and avoid single-use and bring your own.  

What CAN you recycle and where does it go?

The following items should be placed in your recycling bin rinsed, loose and if applicable lids removed:

• Aluminum and steel cans
• Paper (not shredded paper) 
• Cardboard
• Clean plastic bottles, tubs and containers
• Glass bottles and jars

All items should be rinsed, and empty with lids removed. Place all items loose in your recycling bin.

What is the WMRC doing to help?

The WMRC has an extensive waste education program in place, including bin tagging, school talks, tours, workshops and events to assist residents. The West Metro Recycling Centre provides residents and businesses with a central point to drop-off recyclables and other materials which do not belong in your kerbside recycling or landfill bin.

Frequently asked Questions

What are soft plastics?

Soft plastics are plastics that can be easily scrunched into a ball including plastic bags, cling wrap, bubble wrap, lolly wrappers, chip packets and cereal bags to name a few. If it is plastic but cannot be scrunched into a ball, it is hard plastic.

Do all types of meat trays go into the general waste bin?

Yes. Even if the trays are washed, they still go into the general waste bin.

What do I do with my aerosols now that they can’t go into the kerbside recycling bin?

The West Metro Recycling Centre (formerly Brockway Transfer Station) will accept aerosols free of charge as part of the Household Hazardous Waste Program. The Centre also provides free drop-off of other recyclable items that do not belong in either the recycling or landfill kerbside bin. Visit wmrc.wa.gov.au for more information.

China banned a number of items in January 2018, why have we just found out about the changes?

The National Sword Program was implemented by China in January 2018 but it took some time for the impact on the global market to be felt, including other countries implementing their own recyclable material import bans. Once this became apparent, the State Government launched their Waste Taskforce on 29 March 2018. As part of this Taskforce, the change to what can be recycled was agreed by the three WA recycling facilities. This was communicated to local governments in an information session on 24 August 2018.

Manage Waste Wisely

The Western Metropolitan Regional Council (WMRC) is a local government organisation with five Member Councils (City of Subiaco, Town of Cottesloe, Town of Claremont, Town of Mosman Park and Shire of Peppermint Grove) and two Participating Councils (Town of Cambridge and City of Nedlands). Established in 1998, the WMRC provides recycling, waste transfer and haulage services and operates the West Metro Recycling Centre (formerly Brockway Transfer Station).  For more information, contact the WMRC’s Communications and Education Team on 9384 6711 or email community@wmrc.wa.gov.au.