What your bin-lid colour means according to your state
As new bins make their way to households around the country, it’s easy to get confused. Here’s what you can and can’t put in your rubbish bins.
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The Minns government recently announced councils would be rolling out mandatory food organics garden organics (FOGO) bins to every household in NSW.
With the introduction of the new green bins across the state, there is plenty of confusion surrounding the correct use of each bin.
Red bin? Yellow bin? FOGO? It can all be a bit overwhelming.
This state-by-state breakdown will explain what bin lids mean, depending on your state.
Generally speaking, across Australia, two bins are given to households – a recycling bin (yellow lid) and a general waste bin (red lid).
There is also a green bin, which has traditionally been used for garden clippings, but now FOGO bins with lime green lids are being thrown into the mix.
What can go in the FOGO bin?
The FOGO bins are designed to handle food scraps and green waste but can also be filled with pet waste, eggs and dairy products, soiled pizza boxes, shredded paper and used paper towels.
You are not permitted to put plastic bags, glass, tins, cans or timber inside FOGO bins.
When will they be collected?
Across NSW, large green FOGO bins will be collected every week.
Other bins, including green waste (green lid), recycling (yellow lid) and general waste bins (red lid) will be collected fortnightly on an alternating basis and depending on the council.
What can I put in each bin?
Each bin lid has its own corresponding colour, which indicates what can go in each bin.
NSW
While some councils in certain states provide green bins for food scraps and garden cuttings, NSW recently announced it would be introducing mandatory FOGO bins for households and businesses by 2030.
In NSW, there are three household bin lid colours, including:
Red: This bin is designed for general household waste, such as plastic bags, foam trays, clothing, mirrors, window glass, takeaway cups and broken toys.
Yellow: This bin is designed for items you can recycle, including paper and cardboard, rigid plastics (with the lid on), empty cans and glass bottles and jars.
Green: This bin is only for garden clippings, prunings, branches and weeds and cannot exceed 75kg.
NSW is the first state to implement a mandate on FOGO bins for households in an effort to reduce waste in landfills.
FOGO bins have been around for some time in 57 NSW councils, including Forbes, Liverpool, Parkes, Parramatta, Penrith, Wagga Wagga and Wentworth; however, all councils will be forced to introduce the food scrap bins to all households by July 2030.
This comes as the capacity inside landfills inches towards its limit and is set to reach its capacity by 2030.
“NSW has ignored the crisis for landfill capacity for too long,” Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said in February.
“We cannot kick this can down the road any longer.”
“The new FOGO laws mean NSW is leading the nation in combating food waste, becoming the first to mandate this recycling revolution across the state.”
Victoria
“We are working with councils and Alpine Resorts Victoria to standardise household waste and recycling services to make it easier for people to put their waste and recycling in the right streams and ensure materials collected are high quality and can be reused to make new products,” a Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action spokesman told NewsWire.
Victoria’s new system gives residents access to four separate bin-lid colours for different types of waste.
Purple: For recycling glass, such as glass bottles and jars.
Lime green: Used for FOGO items, including vegetable and food scraps and garden cuttings.
Yellow: Used for mixed recycling, such as clear plastic bottles, containers, paper and newspapers.
Red: For general rubbish, meaning anything not accepted in recycling bins.
This excludes items banned from landfills, including e-waste (e.g. batteries, mobile phones, any electronic items that use a plug or battery, etc) and hazardous waste (e.g. chemicals and solvents).
Queensland
There are only three bins for household disposal in Queensland, each with their own bin lid colour for certain types of waste.
While residents can access FOGO bins, they are not mandated in the state.
Red: This is for general waste headed for landfill, such as general rubbish, nappies, clothing, soft plastics and heatproof dishes.
Excluded items include e-waste, bricks and rocks, paints, oil, flooring materials, furniture (even when broken down) and vapes.
Yellow: This bin is reserved for items you can recycle, including cardboard boxes, firm plastic bottles and containers, glass bottles and jars and paper.
Items not permitted inside recycling bins include ink cartridges, light bulbs, books, mirrors or window glass, bamboo serveware or toilet paper, tissues, wax-coated paper (baking paper) and wax-coated boxes.
Green: In this bin, you can throw away grass clippings, garden prunings, flowers, weeds and small branches or prunings from trees and shrubs.
All green waste should be no larger than 10cm in diameter and 75cm in length.
You are not permitted to put any fruit or vegetable waste in green bins, and you cannot place large logs, stumps or heavy branches, pet or animal poo or recyclable items inside green bins.
South Australia
Households have three bins available for waste management, though councils may provide FOGO bins upon request.
“Some councils provide the organics bin (green-lidded) on an opt-in basis, leading to differences in bin ownership, adoption rates, and collection frequency,” a South Australian government spokesman told NewsWire.
Red: This is designated for household waste that is destined for landfill and cannot be filled with recyclable or compostable items.
Yellow: This bin is for items that can be picked up, recycled and reused, such as paper, cardboard, glass bottles, cans and certain plastics.
Green: Bins with a green lid are designed for organic waste, such as garden clippings, leaves and, in many areas, food scraps.
“The contents are composted to produce nutrient-rich soil products,” the spokesman said.
“Many councils in SA offer residents a kitchen caddie to assist with the diversion of household food scraps and food waste through the green lid bin.”
Western Australia
Much like other states, there are three household bins for managing waste.
Yellow: This is the bin for recycling, such as clean and empty glass bottle and jars, unshredded paper, plastic bottles (without lids), flattened cardboard and empty cans.
Dark green: This bin is designated for general waste and can include small prunings, general household waste, nappies and food and organic waste.
You are not permitted to put glass, building materials or medical waste inside dark green bins.
Lime green: This bin is specifically designed for food and garden waste, meaning households can place bread and dairy, fruit and vegetables, dog poo, paper towels, tissues and meat, bones or seafood inside.
“If it didn’t live or grow, it’s not FOGO,” the Recycle Right website reads.
Tasmania
Residents in Tasmania have access to three bins designed for household waste, recycling and green waste.
FOGO caddies are also available upon request.
Red: This is the bin for general waste and is considered a “last resort” for waste that can’t be put in a recycling or FOGO bin.
Yellow: Items that are allowed in this bin includes anything that can be reused or recycled and must be placed in the bin without a liner or bags.
Green: This is designated for organics materials, such as garden clippings, dog poo and food waste including meat, dairy products, leftovers and compostable cutlery.
You cannot place large branches or excess waste in green bins, and must be sent to the tip.
Northern Territory
There are red-lidded and yellow lidded household bins in the Northern Territory.
Red: Designed for general waste, including food scraps and rubbish.
Yellow: This is strictly for items that can be recycled and cannot include clothing, garden waste, plastic bags or e-waste.
The red bin is collected every week, whereas the yellow bins is designated for fortnightly pick-up.
Originally published as What your bin-lid colour means according to your state
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