Waste & recycling services

Drop off household items for recycling

City of Sydney residents can drop off their old and unwanted household items free at Recycle It Saturday.

Frequency: Quarterly
Free

Project Status: When you need to do this

If you’re a resident in the City of Sydney local area you’re eligible to recycle items including clothes, polystyrene, e-waste, soft plastics and more at Recycle It Saturday.

Please bring identification with proof of your address. You may be asked for this before we can accept your items.

Commercial, business or construction waste is not accepted.

Saturday 13 March

Recycle It Saturday from 9am to 3pm at Alexandra Canal Depot, 67C Bourke Road, Alexandria.

View map

What you need to do 

  1. Check you’re a local resident

    We can only accept items from residents in the City of Sydney local area. This map shows our boundaries.

  2. Prepare and separate your items 

    Before you arrive, group items into different bags, buckets or boxes. Pack these in your boot, backseat or trailer so we can safely remove them. See more below about what you can and can’t drop off. 

  3. Visit our depot and stay in your vehicle

    Our team will unpack your vehicle for you. This will reduce the spread of germs and get you on your way faster.

    If you’re walking or riding a bike, you can access a separate drop-off area.

    To ensure the health and safety of our employees and communities, physical distancing measures will be in place. Our team will wear masks. If you’re unwell, stay home.

Download and print a Recycle It Saturday event poster.PDF · 12.15 MB · Last updated

If you're a resident in the City of Sydney local area, print this poster in A4 or A3 size and display it in your apartment building or share it with your neighbours. Remember to fill in the blank space with the next event date.

Car in front of house with rubbish around it
Men unloading items from a car
Smiling man unloading clothing from car
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Before you start

Consider re-use

Except for clothes and textiles, which get reused and resold, items collected at Recycle It Saturday are for recycling only. If your items are still in working condition, try to find a new home for your household items first.

You could give them away to someone who needs it or try advertising online through Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, Trading Post, Ebay, OzRecycle or Freecycle.

Find out more about other reuse, repair and rehoming options.

Visit Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You to find other options for recycling unwanted household items.

After you finish

Where does it all go? 

  • Soft plastics are turned into street furniture, fitness circuits and more.
  • Clothes are resold in Sydney or developing countries, with 20% of profits going to charities.
  • Polystyrene will be recycled into products such as building insulation and photo frames.
  • Electronics are sorted and broken down into usable parts. Batteries can be recycled into new ones. Mobile phone components can be used to make new technology, reducing the need for mining raw materials.
  • Light bulbs are crushed and the glass wool can become home insulation.
  • Gas bottles are inspected for reuse. Rejected bottles are shredded and the metal is recycled. The gas is recovered.
  • Paint is blended into an alternative fuel used in cement manufacturing. 
  • X-rays are harvested for silver and the plastic is recycled. 

Next events

Add these dates to your calendar: 

  • Saturday 13 March 2021
  • Saturday 19 June 2021.
Person recycling waste in a yellow lid binWaste & recycling servicesRecycle household wasteFree
Worker sorting old electronic equipment piled a cageWaste & recycling servicesRecycle e-wasteFree
A women at a City of Sydney customer service centre dropping off an old battery into the recycle bin.Waste & recycling servicesRecycle batteries, mobile phones and light bulbsFree