Community Recycling Centres (CRCs)
Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) are important resources for residents in our region. CRCs offer a safe way to dispose of problem items that can be harmful to the environment and human health when not disposed of responsibly. Putting these items into your yellow bin will cause contamination, which increases the cost and effectiveness of the recycling process. Putting them in your red bin means they will not be recycled and will release harmful chemicals when landfilled.
When should you use your CRC?
Items that can be taken to CRCs are often illegally dumped which can damage local ecosystems, pollute or block waterways, ruin visual amenity and cause fires.
There are several household items that cannot be recycled using the yellow kerbside bin but can be sent to specialised recycling facilities instead of landfill. Examples of these items include light bulbs and globes, gas bottles, and e-waste, which are accepted at CRCs.
Additionally, if you find yourself with large quantities of normally accepted items that cannot fit into your kerbside bin, such as cardboard packaging or paper, you can bring them to your local CRC.
There are a range of waste-related events that are run by CRCs. Examples include chemical
cleanouts and bulky waste drop-offs. These events can be a great opportunity to get rid of your problem waste and can involve the opportunity to keep items in good working condition in the community.
What can you take to your CRC?
The following is a general list of items you can bring for FREE; see links for information specific to your CRC:
- X-ray film
- Gas bottles
- Scrap Metal
- Fire Extinguishers
- Fluoro globes and tubes
- Batteries
- Paint tins
- E-Waste (Computers, phones, printers, TVs etc)
- Textiles
- Motor and other oils
- Polystyrene smoke detectors
- Cardboard and paper
- Aerosol cans
- Mixed recycling
- Oversized garden organics
Additional information
- Dangerous goods or items not listed on the website of your CRC will not be accepted
- Pay attention to the quantity limits; commercial quantities are either not accepted or incur a fee
- Unless otherwise specified, household and garden chemicals are only accepted at scheduled Chemical Cleanout events
Each local council area will from time to time hold other specialised programs to promote recycling. Specialised programs exist for items such as toothpaste tubes, footwear, beauty product packaging and soft plastics. These items are not to be brought to your CRC but refer to councils website to see any additional programs that may be running in your council area to support the recycling of these items at any given time.
Your Local CRCs
Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Depot (Kiama):
Community Recycling Centre and Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Depot Kiama Council
Whytes Gully Waste and Resource Recovery Centre (Wollongong):
Community Recycling Centre | City of Wollongong
Dunmore Recycling & Waste Disposal Depot (Shellharbour):
Dunmore Recycling & Waste Disposal Depot – Shellharbour Waste
Shoalhaven Community Recycling Centres are available at each Waste and Recycling Depot: Community Recycling Centres | Shoalhaven City Council
