What you can take to Council's resource recovery centres
Brisbane City Council has four resource recovery centres (previously known as 'transfer stations'), located at Willawong, Chandler, Ferny Grove and Nudgee. Use this page to find out what you can take to our resource recovery centres.
For information about what you can put in your bins at home, download Council's free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app.
Items accepted for recycling
The following items can be dropped off at any resource recovery centre in a vehicle under 4.5 tonnes CGVM. When you arrive, inform weighbridge staff that you have recycling to drop-off first.
Accepted items
Accepted items
Waste type | Examples | Requirements |
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Batteries | Sizes AAA-D, button batteries, rechargeable, lithium, lead acid car batteries, solar batteries, power banks |
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Cardboard | Large cardboard from packaging |
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Cooking oil | - |
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Electronic waste | TVs, computers including portable data processing machines, monitors and projectors, printers, computer parts and peripherals |
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Engine oil | Used mineral engine oil |
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Fire extinguishers | - |
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Gas bottles | - |
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Hard plastics | Rigid plastics such as buckets, chairs, car bumpers, crates, plastic containers, plastic gardening pots and tubs | - |
Household recycling | Aluminium cans, cardboard and paper, glass bottles and jars | - |
Lights | Fluorescent lighting tubes and bulbs | Only fluorescent lights |
Metal | Steel, stainless steel, tin, iron, copper, aluminium White goods and large appliances (e.g.: fridges, washing machines, dryers, freezers, air conditioners, ovens, cooktops) Machinery such as whipper snippers, lawn mowers – fuel and oil must be drained Small household appliances (e.g.: toaster, kettle) and other equipment with a power source Other items such as cast-iron pipes, baths, copper coils, screen doors, trailers |
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Mobile phones | - |
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Paint | Liquid or solid paint, lead, water or oil-based |
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Paper | Paper for document destruction | Household quantities only |
Polystyrene | Large polystyrene blocks used for packaging |
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Find out more about disposing of household hazardous waste.
1 It is important to delete data from your electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, tablets and laptops before disposing of them to help prevent theft of your personal information (known as identity theft). Visit the MobileMuster website for tips on deleting data from mobile phones and the TechCollect website for deleting data from computers and other devices.
Items accepted for donation to Council's Treasure Troves
Council’s Treasure Troves prepare all reusable, donated items for sale. Proceeds go to the Endeavour Foundation to support people with a disability. Resource recovery centre staff may refuse to accept items for donation that are not considered saleable.
Advise staff at the weighbridge and the recycling area if your load includes the following items for donation.
Donatable items
Donatable items
- artwork, antiques and sculptures
- books
- clothing - quality textiles and wearable resalable clothing
- compact discs (CDs), digital video discs (DVDs) and records
- furniture and other household items in good working order
- kitchen utensils
- luggage
- musical instruments
- shoes and bags
- sporting equipment, including bikes and exercise equipment (no electrical equipment)
- toys suitable for ages 3 and up in good condition (broken plastic toys can be recycled in the hard plastic recycling bin).
The Endeavour Foundation is unable to accept electronic or electrical items. These items can be donated to charities who accept them or placed in electronic waste (TVs, computers) or metal recycling (household appliances). Ask staff on site for more information.
Green waste
You can contribute to generating valuable compost for our local farms and gardens by recycling your green waste at the resource recovery centres. Disposal fees apply and you can pay by using waste vouchers (where applicable), card, or commercial account.
Accepted green waste
Accepted green waste
- flowers and foliage
- grass clippings
- leaves
- loose bark
- palm fronds, twigs, branches
- garden prunings from shrubs and trees (e.g., offcuts, roots, tubers)
- weeds, ivy, creepers and vines.
Green waste not accepted
Green waste not accepted
- garden tools, hoses, gloves, fuel, oil, cans, plastic plant pots
- pavers, logs and sleepers
- dirt, gravel, rocks, soil and stones
- tree stumps over 500 millimetres
- treated and untreated building timber.
You can also recycle your green waste at home by:
- Ordering Council's fortnightly green waste recycling service
- Using your green waste for mulch in your garden or in your compost system, along with food waste, to improve soil. Council offers a $70 compost rebate on eligible equipment.
General waste
You can take general waste to the resource recovery centres for disposal. Disposal fees apply and you can pay by using waste vouchers (where applicable), card, commercial account or cash.
Resource recovery centres do not accept the following materials:
- asbestos
- household hazardous waste (except on advertised event days or as specified under the 'safe disposal methods' heading)
- tyres.
Visit the Planet Ark Recycling Near You website for information about other recycling and disposal options.
Quantities of soil, concrete and masonry:
- are accepted for domestic quantities only (equivalent to a trailer or ute load)
- are not accepted for commercial quantities (equivalent to a truckload or more).
For large quantities, contact a recycling facility that accepts soil, concrete and masonry or a private landfill. Businesses reuse, recycle or reprocess these products to a saleable product.
Preparing your waste
Before leaving home, pack your load in the order you need to drop-off waste at the centres:
- pack first (back of your vehicle/tray): general waste
- pack second: green waste (keep separate from general waste)
- pack last (front of vehicle): recycling items, which is the first drop-off point at the centres.
This packing order will reduce your time on site and save you money on waste disposal fees. Find out more information on using the resource recovery centres.
Arriving on site
Vehicle under 4.5 tonnes combined gross vehicle mass (CGVM)
Vehicle under 4.5 tonnes combined gross vehicle mass (CGVM)
Recycling | Green waste and general waste |
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Step 1: Follow the yellow line to the drive-through recycling area to unload acceptable recycling materials and Treasure Trove donations for free. Recycling first will reduce your general waste fees. | Step 2: Follow the green line to drop-off your green waste in the dedicated hardstand area. Step 3: Follow the red line to drop-off your general waste last in the pit. General waste and green waste disposal fees apply. Pay by waste vouchers, card, or cash. |
Vehicle over 4.5 tonnes CGVM
Vehicle over 4.5 tonnes CGVM
Visit a major resource recovery centre, located at Nudgee and Willawong. Follow the red line and use the recycling bins located in the general waste area.
Fees and charges apply for all waste types. Pay by card, cash, or commercial account. Waste vouchers are not accepted.