Let’s get recycling sorted

What goes in your yellow lid bin?

In Logan, approximately 5,000 tonnes of recyclable material were lost in general waste bins in 2023/24, highlighting a crucial need for better recycling practices.

Recycling is a powerful way to make a positive impact on our environment and secure a sustainable future for generations to come. By adhering to simple recycling rules, we can conserve precious natural resources,
cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce the strain on our landfills.

Let’s get it sorted, Logan!

These items CAN go in your yellow lid bin

Item	Description
Metal	Canned food tins and pet food tins, drink cans, empty aerosols, pie trays and foil from the kitchen, which should be scrunched into a ball.
Cardboard	Cardboard boxes, egg cartons, pizza boxes, toilet rolls, cereal boxes, juice and milk cartons.
Firm plastic bottles and containers	Milk bottles, shampoo bottles, ice cream tubs, fruit punnets, detergent and soap bottles.
Glass bottles and jars	Beverage bottles, jam jars and sauce bottles, juice bottles and oil bottles. Lids can be left on.
Paper	Glossy magazines, wrapping paper, newspapers and printer paper.

These items CAN'T go in your yellow lid bin

Did you know that when these items are placed in your yellow lid bin it may mean your recycling goes to landfill? Some items can also damage the sorting machines and create safety problems for workers.

Item	What to do
Recyclables in plastic bags Plastic bags and bin liners	Do not bag your recyclables. Recyclables in plastic bags cause contamination and may lead to recyclable materials being sent to landfill. Keep your recyclables loose.
Soft plastics Food wrappers and plastic film	If you can scrunch it in your hands, then it's soft plastic. Currently, Queenslanders don’t have access to soft plastic recycling via supermarket retailers. Put soft plastics in the general waste bin. Try to reduce your plastic usage or avoid them altogether.
Coffee cups and lids Coffee cups and lids, disposable paper cups, fast food takeaway cups	Coffee cups are typically made of paper with a thin plastic lining (usually polyethylene) to make them waterproof. This combination of materials makes it difficult for recycling. Place coffee cups and lids in your general waste bin (red or dark green lid).
Food or garden waste Fruits and vegetables, food leftovers, grass clippings, tree and shrub prunnings	Garden waste can't go in the yellow lid bin and should be placed in your garden waste bin (lime green lid). If you don't have a green waste bin, you can drop garden waste off for free at Council's waste and recycling facilities or place it in your general waste bin (red or dark green lid). Food waste can't go in the yellow lid bin and should be placed in your general waste bin (red or dark green lid) or in a composting bin or worm farm system.
Clothes and textiles Clothes, shoes, bedding, towels, tablecloths, rugs and carpet	Try selling or donating unwanted clothes, repurposing old clothes and textiles into cleaning rags, or donating old towels to your local animal shelter or hospital.; You can donate clothes and textiles in good condition to the Logan Recycling Market. Drop these off for free at any of Council's waste and recycling facilities.
Batteries and hazardous waste Batteries, paint and chemicals, gas bottles, asbestos	Hazardous materials in bins are a fire and environmental risk and are harmful to people and the planet. Some hazardous materials are collected at Council’s waste and recycling facilities.
E-waste Mobile phones, computers, TVs, home appliances, cables and chargers, gaming consoles	Never put e-waste or mobile phones in the bin. E-waste can contain toxic and hazardous materials that can cause fires. You can deposit any electronic item that uses a battery or has a cord at all Council’s waste and recycling facilities.
Rigid plastics Old toys, kitchenware, plant pots and materials like PVC piping	Items around your home made of hard/rigid plastic, that are not plastic bottles and containers, can't be recycled through your yellow lid bin. You can donate items that are in good condition to the Logan Recycling Market. Drop these off for free at any of Council’s waste and recycling facilities. Items that are not resalable can be disposed of in your general waste bin (red or dark green lid).

Tips for getting it sorted

Keep it clean

Scrape out all food containers and pizza boxes before they go into the yellow lid bin.
Empty all bottles and cans and If you’re unsure, give it a quick rinse. This helps prevent contamination and ensures that the recycling process runs smoothly.

Make sorting simple

Keep a separate collection container for recyclables in your kitchen, laundry and bathroom.
Some items are made up of recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Separate soft plastics coverings from food packaging and place them in the general waste bin (red or dark green lid), to ensure the rest of the packaging can be recycled.

Keep it loose

Don’t put your recyclables in a bag or bin liner, as they cannot be sorted and will end up in landfill.
Keep your recycling loose when it goes into your yellow lid bin.
Keeping it loose also means recycling can be sorted and processed more easily and efficiently.
Don’t over compact your yellow lid bin so materials get stuck when emptying it.

Keep lids on

Plastic bottle caps and lids from your recyclable containers should be left on.
Lids from glass bottles and jars should be left on.
Do not put plastic bottle lids into the yellow lid bin by themselves. They are too small for the sorting machinery to process.

Not all items can be recycled through your yellow lid bin

Many household items are not suitable for recycling through your yellow lid bin, but can be recycled through Council's waste and recycling facilities.
Items in good condition can be donated to the Logan Recycling Market.

Refer to our Frequently asked questions to learn more.