Ways to save at the depots

A little bit of planning can save you a lot of money.

When you separate your waste into recyclable and non-recyclable, you will incur a lower charge - or no charge - for the recyclable items, and only receive the full charge for the non-recyclable items.

If you don't sort your recyclables, they will be charged at the higher 'mixed waste' cost.

Please ensure that your waste is separated clearly for our gate staff to see, so you will be charged the right amount and directed to the correct disposal location.

How to sort your waste load

Your waste load should be sorted into three (3) sections.

  1. First, load your vehicle or trailer with non-recyclables (landfill waste). Make sure these items are closest to the driver's seat or cabin. Disposal areas for this waste are located furthest from the gate, so you don't want them to be in the way of everything else you need to recycle.
  2. Next, load your vehicle with items that may be accepted at the buy-back centre. These items can be offloaded for free if staff consider them saleable. See items that may be accepted on our buy-back centres page.
  3. Finally, load your vehicle with items that can be recycled for no charge. They will be the first items that can clearly be seen by our depot staff

For more information on how to sort and save, we have a quick video guide to planning out your load with Wombat:

Video transcript

A person nicknamed 'Wombat' leans against the bed of a ute that is full of different kinds of items, while an upbeat guitar melody plays in the background.

Wombat: G'day! I want to talk to you about sorting your waste so you can save money.

Wombat gestures to the items in the back of the ute.

Wombat: There is heaps of stuff you won't get charged for if you take it to one of Council's recycling and waste depots. You've just got to make sure when you're packing the load, that the recyclables are going to be easy for the staff at the depot gates to see.

Wombat: It also makes it easier for you when you get there as recyclables are always located near the entrance.

The camera cuts to Wombat standing at the back of the ute, to get a closer look at the items.

Wombat: This stuff here is all our recyclables - cardboard, polystyrene, tubes, scrap metal... Paints? Now, stuff like that - especially this...

Wombat picks a small fire extinguisher out of the back of the ute.

Wombat: Fire extinguisher - that should not be going in your curbside bin. That's why you can recycle it at the depot.

Wombat puts the fire extinguisher back in the ute. The camera cuts to Wombat on the far side of the ute, holding an old keyboard.

Wombat: And e-waste - Now, easy one to remember. To me? Anything that's got a 'lead' (cable) on it. Because even if they can't recycle certain parts, they're going to recycle the lead off of it - including the old heater.

The camera cuts to Wombat back on the other side of the ute, gesturing to items further back in the bed of the ute.

Wombat: The stuff I have in the middle is things that may be accepted in the buy-back centre - Good chair, nothing wrong with that pot...

The camera cuts to wombat holding a small wooden Vespa-style scooter designed for children.

Wombat: Still plenty of life left in that that's going to make someone very happy.

The camera cuts back to a wide shot of the back of the ute, with Wombat standing at the far end, near the cabin.

Wombat: And last of all is the waste. Now this is all going to go to landfill so you really need to keep it separated from anything that goes to the buy-back, or your recyclables.

Wombat begins to unfurl the ute's tray cover.

Wombat: Look, anything that's waste, you will be charged for; but not if you use your free vouchers, and all ratepayers...

The camera cuts to Wombat grinning at the camera while a waste voucher flies into his hands.

Wombat: Get two per year.

The camera cuts to wombat pulling the ute cover over the bed and fastening it down. The screen then cuts to the Shoalhaven City Council logo and web address.

Wombat (voice-over): Remember, sort and save. Find out what can be recycled for free, at Council's website.

The background music fades out, and the video ends.