Residential Recycling and Waste Collection

Everything you need to know about your recycling and waste collection service

ACT NOWaste manages waste and recycling collection services for households in the ACT. Cleanaway is the contractor who empties the bins on behalf of the ACT Government. Waste bins are collected weekly and recycling is collected fortnightly.

The ACT has the best levels of recycling per capita in the nation. Businesses and non-residential properties (such as schools, clubs and shopping centres) are required to arrange their own waste and recycling services with a commercial operator.

Collection Days

Check the Collection Day Calendar 2008 ( PDF 715Kb ) for both recycling and garbage services information. Collection calendars are delivered annually to households. If you have moved house, have lost or did not receive one, contact Cleanaway on 6260 1547 to have another calendar sent out.

The following suburbs have split collection days and should check their collection day and week:

• Dunlop ( PDF 198Kb)
• Evatt ( PDF 291Kb )
• Lyneham ( PDF 166Kb )
• Nicholls ( PDF 218Kb )

Useful publications:

• A Guide to ACT Recycling and Garbage Services ( PDF 1.4 Mb )
• Recycling Guide ( PDF 782 Kb )

Click on the following pages to find out about:

• Using Your Bin
  What to recycle (yellow-lidded bin), What can go in the green (garbage) bin, Putting bins out, Multi-Unit Development Collections.
• What To Do If There Is A Problem
  What to do if you have missed services, lost, stolen or damaged bins, bins for new dwellings, not enough bin space, difficulties putting bins out and smelly bins.
• What Happens To Household Waste and Recycling
  Details on what happens to recycling and waste after it is collected, with a series of images showing the process of sorting recylable materials from landfill.
• Advice On Best Disposal Methods For A Variety of Wastes
  Some items shouldn't go in your recycling or waste bin. Some items can be disposed of in your waste bin, but there are reuse or recycling options which are better.