Recycling your waste can be a tricky area to manage. Each state and territory has different things that can be recycled and others that can’t. Not everything can be recycled in Canberra unfortunately and it is important to have an understanding around what can and can’t be recycled. Illegal dumping is something that needs to be looked at as well. It can pollute our water system and potentially be dangerous and hazardous to humans and animals. Disposing of your items properly and safely is important to get right for not only your own wellbeing but for our planet. So where is your closest recycling centre in Canberra?
Resource Management Centres
Canberra has two major resource management centre’s run by available for disposing your items. These are located at Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre in Symonston and Mitchell Resource Management Centre in Mitchell. Operating from 7am to 5pm, seven days a week, it has never been easier to drop off your recycling. Both of these centres offer a wide range of recycling and waste collection for items such as:
- Household recycling (paper, cardboard, glass, aluminium, steel, firm plastic packaging and food waste)
- Green waste (via Corkhill Bros at Mugga Lane)
- Hazardous waste
- Mattresses
- e-Waste (televisions and computers)
- Signage (corflute and tree guards)
- General waste (for demolition only)
- Waste to landfill
These items are generally free to drop off though some items do incur a small fee to drop off depending on the material of the waste. If you just have household waste, you can take it for disposal at any of your local drop off centres in Tuggeranong, Phillip, Belconnen and Gungahlin instead of the resource management centres. Your local drop off centres are open 24 hours.
If you’re considering other items that can be recycled or disposed of, green waste fits into this category. Check out our article on green waste skips versus trash paks for more information.
Other recycling options
The Green Shed
Do you have items that can be recycled by giving it a second life with someone else? The Green Shed takes your reusable items off your hands for free of charge to then be purchased by a new owner. The Green Shed recycling initiative is located at both resource management centres as well as other various locations within Canberra.
Soft Landing Mattress Recycling
Located in Hume in Canberra’s south, Soft Landing offers to take your mattresses and bed bases off your hands for a fee. This mattress recycling scheme uses timber bases and mattress springs and foam to create mulch, metal roofing and carpet underlay so it does not go to landfill.
MobileMuster
If you’ve upgraded to a new phone or yours has broken, MobileMuster will take it off your hands as well as the accessories and chargers. They ensure that materials used to create mobile phones are recovered to reuse again. You can take your phone to the nearest phone store or a designated drop off point.
