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Recycling Services
Households in Whitehorse are provided with a 240-litre yellow-lidded mobile bin for their fortnightly recycling service. The recycling bin is collected on the same day as your garbage collection.
When To Put Your Bin Out
To find out rubbish and recycling dates, use Council's Whitehorse Mapping – GIS Online facility. Accept the terms and conditions of use, then enter your address to find out collection days for your area.
Alternatively, download the 
Recycling and Garden Organics Collection Map (536.72kB). Please note, these dates are also listed in Council's 2012 calendar, which was delivered to households at the beginning of the year. If you need a copy of the calendar mailed to you, please email this request to customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au
What To Put In Your Recycling Bin
- Plastics coded 1-7, which include soft drink bottles, milk bottles, ice cream containers, yogurt containers and cordial bottles (code numbers are stamped on the bottom of the container)
- Aluminium, steel, aerosol cans and clean foil
- Milk and juice containers
- Glass bottles and jars (no lids)
- Newspapers
- Cardboard
- Telephone books
- Cereal and food boxes
- Letters, advertising materials and magazines
- Envelopes
- Office paper
Items You Can't Put In Your Recycling
- Plastic bags
- Motor oil containers
- Cling wrap
- Any glass items except bottles and jars
- Crockery: Pyrex, plates, mugs, etc
- Polystyrene foam
- Scrap metal appliances such as car parts and cooking utensils
- Waxed cardboard
- Food soiled cardboard containers
- Foil gift-wrap
- Plastic coated paper
How To Place Recyclables In Your Recycling Bin
All items should be placed loosely in your bin (and not in plastic bags) Containers should be rinsed, majority of food scraps removed and all cartons flattened. Lids and tops should also be placed loosely into the bin. At no time should you use plastics bags.
Where To Place Your Recycling Bin On the Street
Your recycling bin must be placed on the kerb next to your household rubbish bin every two weeks. It is important that you leave at least 50 centimetres between your household bin and recycling bin so that Council can easily collect them.
Remember to place your bin out on the street the night before collection and place your bin:
- Clear of parked cars
- Away from overhanging trees, poles and signs
- Side by side, not behind other bins
- With the front of the bin facing the road
What To Do With Excess Recyclables
If you continually have excess recyclables each fortnight you may be eligible for a second recycling bin. Please contact Council's Customer Services Department on 9262 6333 for more information.
If you have excess recyclables only at certain times of the year; for example, parties or at Christmas, you can drop off bottles, cans, paper and cardboard for free at Council’s Waste and Recycling Centre. Call the centre on 9262 6236 for more information.
What To Do If Your Recycling Is Missed On Collection Day
If your bin has been missed on collection day, please contact Council's Customer Service Department on 9262 6333. Please note that drivers will not return to pick up bins that weren't left out for collection on time.
Bins will not be emptied if they have been filled inappropriately or have been placed in such a way that the truck's lifting arm is not able to access or lift the bin. Please refer to the information under above to find out how to place your bin on the street correctly.
Christmas and Public Holidays
Council's waste services operate throughout the festive season and when your collection date falls on public holiday days.
Moving House
Bins are Council property and must not be taken with you if you move.
New and Stolen Bins
Council will replace or repair your bin if it has been damaged or stolen. If your bin is missing, complete and return the Missing Bin Application Form from the Waste and Recycling Forms section of the website.
A bin is considered damaged if it is missing its lid or wheels or if it has a split body. If your bin needs to be repaired, call Council on 9262 6333. If a bin is beyond repair (i.e. split body), Council will replace it with a new bin. Damaged bins must be placed on the nature strip to await repairs/replacement.
To prevent damage or theft of your bins, remove them from the kerbside on the same day as your waste collection.