Household recycling
| Service | Collection Frequency | Bin Type & Size |
|---|---|---|
 Glass & containers |
Fortnightly, alternate weeks collection dates |
140 litre yellow lidded bin |
 Paper & cardboard |
Fortnightly, alternate weeks collection dates |
140 litre blue lidded bin |
| Service | Collection Frequency | Bin Type & Size |
|---|---|---|
| Glass & containers |
Weekly collection dates |
240 litre yellow lidded bin or 55 litre red crate |
| Paper & cardboard |
Weekly collection dates |
240 litre blue lidded bin or 55 litre green crate |
- On 1 October 2007 Mosman Council introduced a new and improved recycling collection service for residents living in houses/single dwellings. Crates have been replaced by 140 litre Mobile Recycling Bins, with a collection service on a fortnightly basis, on alternate weeks. More information on the changes to household recycling.
Customer requests and additional services
Report a missed service or lost or damaged bin
Please call Council’s Waste Line on 9978 4076.
Request a new recycling bin or change of service
- Domestic Waste Service Agreement: Houses & Semi-Detached Houses (PDF 26KB)
- Domestic Waste Service Agreement: Units and Townhouses (PDF 26KB)
If you wish to change the size of your bin, or you have just moved into the Mosman area and need to nominate your bin size, you can download and complete the appropriate Domestic Waste Service Agreement form below and lodge it with Council.
What recyclable material is collected?
| Yellow lidded bin – containers and glass (previously red crate) |
|
|---|---|
| Accepted in this bin | Not accepted in this bin |
|
|
| Blue lidded bin – paper and cardboard (previously green crate) |
|
|---|---|
| Accepted in this bin | Not accepted in this bin |
Crush and flatten all cardboard boxes |
|
- Recent studies indicate that the average Mosman resident garbage bin still contains up to 28% recyclables, items that should have been recycled!
Frequently asked questions
Are pizza boxes recyclable?
Clean pizza boxes (e.g. not too much grease and no food) can definitely be recycled in the blue lidded bin. In addition, please remember to flatten any cardboard that is placed in the bin. If the cardboard is jammed in it makes it hard for the contractor to empty the bin.
Which recycling bin do I place milk and juice cartons in?
Milk and juice cartons are placed in the yellow lidded bin for containers, glass and plastic.
Milk and juice cartons are made from a product known as liquidpaperboard (LPB), which is not ordinary cardboard. It is made from a layer of cardboard sandwiched between layers of plastic. Some LPB cartons also have an aluminium layer. A special technique is therefore needed to separate each layer for recycling and this is why milk and juice cartons are placed in the yellow lidded bin for recycling as opposed to the blue lidded bin for paper and cardboard.
What plastic can be recycled?
Not all plastics can be recycled, such as plastic wrap. The new and improved recycling collection system collects more types of plastic, including plastic containers and bottles marked 1 to 6:
For example, if you look on the bottom of a plastic milk bottle you will find the symbol ‘1’ or ‘2’. This plastic container can be recycled in your new yellow lidded bin.
The numbers 1 to 6 indicate what kind of plastic the bottle/container is made from and what kind of product the bottle/container can be made into when recycled. For example, plastic bottles marked with the number 1 – such as a soft drink or water bottle – are made from PET (polyethylene) and can be made into more soft drink bottles and even fleecy jackets.
Can I still use crates for recycling?
Houses
140L Mobile Recycling Bins (MRBs) have replaced crates for the collection of recyclables from houses. Crates can no longer used for the collection of recyclables unless you have received a Council approved exemption. Should crates be used for the presentation of recyclables they will be taken away by Council.
If you are experiencing difficulties in physically managing the MRBs, or are having storage problems, please contact Council’s Waste Customer Support Officer on 9978 4076 to arrange a meeting to discuss.
Units (shared bins)
Currently crates can still be used for the collection of recyclables from units (units with shared bins only). However, it is the intention of Council to phase out the use of crates for the collection of recyclables from units in early 2008. Unit blocks will be assessed on a case by case basis to identify any storage capacity issues.
How do I present my bins for collection at the kerb?
Council’s Local Approval Policy – Management of Waste In Public Places (PDF 92KB) – outlines a number of requirements in relation to bin presentation.
- Bins must be placed out for collection on the night before your allocated collection day, and not before.
- Bins must be placed out for collection directly in front of your property.
- It is recommended that bins are placed out for collection on the nature strip and close to the street gutter but away from impediments such trees, telegraph poles, in between or directly behind cars.
- It is recommended that a 50 cm gap be left between each bin when placed out for collection.
- Bins, once serviced, must be collected as soon as possible and stored back on the property to which they belong.
Why is it important to reduce, reuse and recycle?
New recycling system display at Mosman Markets, Sept 2007
Reducing, reusing and recycling waste is considered to play an important role in tackling climate change. Recycling reduces the amount of waste going to landfill, delivers significant energy and water savings, conserves non-renewable virgin resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. More information.
Recycling helps to reduce the size of your garbage bin and saves you money! The Domestic Waste Charge is based on the principles of “user pays” where the amount charged is determined by the size of the garbage bin and the frequency of service to each residential property. The smaller the garbage bin, the less waste to landfill and the lower the rate charged.
The cost of waste to landfill is increasing. The NSW State Government, under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001, has developed frameworks and policies for reducing waste and making better use of our resources, such as the Waste Strategy 2006. Under this Strategy, by 2014 local government, industry and the community must work towards raising the amount of waste being diverted from landfill from the current 26 per cent to 66 per cent. In order to ensure this target is met the NSW State Government has increased the cost of sending waste to landfill.