Recycling Rules

Recycling rules in Western Australia have changed over time to reduce contamination and ensure the materials collected through yellow-lidded bins can actually be recycled. This page explains what goes where, why some items are no longer accepted and how you can make the most of your household recycling.

Why recycling rules change

Recycling rules evolve because global markets, national policies and local processing capacity shift. What we can recycle at home depends on whether there is a safe, reliable market to turn those materials into new products.

In 2018, China banned the import of 24 types of recyclable waste and introduced stricter contamination standards. Countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia quickly became oversupplied and began restricting imports. With fewer overseas markets available, some materials that were once easy to sell suddenly had nowhere to go and global commodity prices dropped.

To respond, the State Government created a Waste Taskforce and Western Australia's three recycling companies agreed on a single statewide list of what can be accepted in yellow-lidded recycling bins. The aim is to reduce contamination, ensure materials can be recycled and keep the system safe and financially sustainable.

These rules apply across Western Australia as part of a broader national effort to rebuild recycling and reprocessing capacity in Australia.

We understand these changes can feel frustrating, but they form part of a coordinated effort to create a cleaner, more reliable recycling system for everyone.

What you can put in your recycling bin

You can place the following items in your yellow-lidded recycling bin:

• Hard plastic bottles, tubs and containers
• Glass bottles and jars
• Steel and aluminium cans
• Paper and cardboard (not shredded)

Please rinse items, empty contents, remove lids and place everything loose in the bin.

Items that cannot go in your recycling bin

These are the items residents most commonly find confusing. They cannot be processed in WA recycling facilities and must not be placed in your yellow-lidded bin.

• Soft 'scrunchable' plastic
• Polystyrene
• Aerosol cans
• Meat trays
• Shredded paper
• Bottle tops.

Find out where to place these items below.

More information and contact

For more infomration on recycling rules, contact the City's Waste Education Team on (08) 9411 3444 or email [email protected].