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Recycling in Adelaide — what goes in which bin

A quick-reference guide to Adelaide's bin system. Lid colours vary slightly by council — always check your local council guide for the final word.

The Adelaide bin system

  • Yellow lid

    Co-mingled recycling — bottles, cans, paper, cardboard.

  • Red lid

    General waste to landfill — only what can't go elsewhere.

  • Green / Lime lid

    Garden organics and food scraps.

  • Purple lid

    Glass-only — offered by some councils.

✓ Yes — yellow lid

  • Cardboard & paper
  • Glass bottles & jars
  • Plastic bottles (1, 2, 5)
  • Tin & aluminium cans
  • Empty aerosol cans

✗ No — red lid only

  • Soft plastics
  • Greasy pizza boxes
  • Polystyrene
  • Nappies & sanitary items
  • Electronics & batteries

Special recycling in Adelaide

  • Soft plastics

    Drop-off bins at participating supermarkets.

  • E-waste

    Council e-waste drop-off facility — check your council site.

  • Batteries

    Aldi store collection points or Battery World branches.

  • Mobile phones

    MobileMuster drop boxes at participating retailers.

Hard rubbish collection

Council hard rubbish collection runs annually — check your council website for dates and what's accepted. Mattresses, white goods and large furniture are typically included; building waste and chemicals are not.

This guide is general information. Always verify rules with your council before disposal.