Your waste and recycling guide

Find out how to dispose of your unwanted stuff... Search or browse by what you'd like to get rid of.

The Geelong Resource Recovery Centre has moved to an interim site at 21 Slevin Street. See the list of items accepted for drop-off and alternative sites.

Chemicals

Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria used to fund free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Best option for disposal:

Small quantities: Drysdale Landfill accepts small domestic quantities (no larger than 6 x 4 trailer) of asbestos. Asbestos disposal must be booked in advance. 


Otherwise:

Large quantities: Large quantities of asbestos must be disposed of using a licenced contractor. 



Best option for disposal:

Drop off barbecue gas bottles (up to 9kg) for free at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre or at the interim Geelong Resource Recovery Centre.

Do not place BBQ gas bottles in your kerbside wheelie bins, even if the bottles are empty. 


Otherwise:

Contact the retailer who you purchased your BBQ bottle from. Most brands will take back empty or damaged bottles. 

Elgas provide a gas bottle refill exchange. View their website to find the nearest gas bottle swap near you.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.

 



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Check the labelling on the chemical container for specific disposal instructions or ask your chemical supplier or retailer.

See entry for drumMuster for Agricultural and Veterinary (agvet) empty chemical containers.


Otherwise:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:





Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

You can find drumMUSTER collection points at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre.


Otherwise:

drumMUSTER provides Australian agricultural and veterinary chemical users with a recycling pathway for eligible empty agvet chemical containers.
For further details visit drumMUSTER or call 1800 008 707

Best option for disposal:

E cigarettes (vapes) must not be placed in any of your kerbside bins.

It is against the law to place e-waste in kerbside bins in Victoria.

If the battery can be removed safely it can be taken to one of many local battery drop off points.

A trial of vape collection recycling bins is operating until the end of January 2026.

Trial collection bins are located at The Nest Youth Hub and The fOrT Youth Hub.


Otherwise:

You can receive email updates on how to safely dispose of vapes, as well as other recycling tips by subscribing to Rethink Your Rubbish

 



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

You can dispose of up to six fire extinguishers at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre or the interim Geelong Resource Recovery Centre.

The first two will be accepted for free, each additional extinguisher at a fee. 



Otherwise:



Best option for disposal:

Expired/out of date flares can be disposed of at selected police stations and Battery World stores. 

Do not place flares in any kerbside bin. 



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

Do not place in any kerbside bin. 

Search the specific waste type using the search bar for this guide.


Otherwise:

Visit the Geelong safe disposal of hazardous waste overview page. 

Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

Almost all light types cannot be placed in any kerbside wheelie bin.

Fluorescent, LED and incandescent globes can be taken to our Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre for a free drop off where they will be recycled.

Incandescent globes are the only exception. They should be wrapped in paper and placed in your red lid rubbish bin.

 

 


Otherwise:

Incandescent globes, LEDs and fluorescent tubes can be dropped off for free recycling at all IKEA stores. 



Best option for disposal:

Drop off motor oil for free at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre.

Check the websites before visiting for volume and storage guidelines. 



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2026. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:

 




Best option for disposal:

Photographic film negatives can be recycled for free by dropping them off at:

Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct, 37-149 Mercer Street, Geelong

They should be placed in the dedicated x-ray slot in the recycling station located in the foyer.

X-rays and photographic film negatives are recycled here in Australia. They are a valuable source of silver and plastic. 


Otherwise:

Place in your red lid rubbish bin.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:

 




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Best option for disposal:

Residents can drop off domestic quantities of paint - up to 100 litres in one transaction, for free at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre.

Paints eligible for drop off include:
- water and oil-based paints (interior and exterior)
- deck coatings
- floor paints
- primers and undercoats
- shellacs and stains
- undercoats
- sealers (including urethane)
- varnishes
- wood coatings (containing no pesticides) and
- empty paint tins.

Do not place any type of paint in any kerbside bin.

The privately owned facility, Recycle North Geelong (116 Furner Avenue North Geelong) also accept up to 100 litres of paint - check their website for details.


Otherwise:

Empty paint tins (lids off, no wet paint) can be disposed of via the hard waste collection service many residents have as part of their rates payment.

For more details on booking and what items can be included visit the hard waste page.

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2026. Find your closest event at the SV website.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Best option for disposal:

Place it in your red lid rubbish bin.

Smoke detectors are exempt from e-waste laws.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

If the spray paint can is empty, place in your yellow lid recycling bin. Make sure can is empty first. 

For any other advice re: paint disposal, you can check for options at: https://www.paintback.com.au/find-location 


Otherwise:

For aerosol cans still containing paint, check the Sustainability Victoria website for upcoming Detox Your Home events.

Best option for disposal:

Do not place gas tanks in your kerbside wheelie bins, even if the tanks are empty. 

Otherwise:

Contact the manufacturer of the tank. Most manufacturers will take back empty or damaged bottles or be able to advise of drop-off points for their tanks. 

Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.

Find out how to clean up mercury spills in your home at the EPA Victoria website.



Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.



Otherwise:




Best option for disposal:

Sustainability Victoria previously funded free Detox Your Home events for household chemical disposal. 

A limited number of events have been confirmed for 2025. Find your closest event at the SV website.

Read their advice for disposing of household chemicals at the Sustainability Victoria website or call 1300 363 744.




Not listed? Email us for suggestions on recycling a specific item.