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Sustainability on campus
5.
Quick reference waste directory
Quick reference waste directory
Sort it out right! Learn where to dispose of your waste correctly on campus to shrink your waste footprint. Don’t forget, the best way to protect the environment is to reduce and reuse first. Recycling comes next, and landfill should always be your last resort.
Can't find an item on the list? Send us an email at university.sustainability@sydney.edu.au.
A
Aerosol cans
Recycle: Empty cans can go in the yellow recycling bins.
Aluminium foil
Recycle: Clean foil, scrunched into a ball the size of an orange or larger, can go in the yellow recycling bins.
B
Bamboo cutlery
Landfill: Bamboo and wooden cutlery must be thrown into the red landfill bins.
Batteries
Recycle: Single-use batteries, rechargeable batteries, button cell batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9V) and button-sized batteries can be placed in the collection boxes in the following locations:
Camperdown Campus
- Charles Perkins Centre (D17), Concierge Desk, Level 1
- Susan Wakil Health Building (D18), Concierge Desk, Level 2
- Sydney Nanoscience Hub (A31), Concierge Desk, Level 2
- Fisher Library (F03), Concierge Desk, Level 3
- Michael Spence Building (F23), Concierge Desk
Darlington Campus
- Services Building (G12), Helpdesk Counter
- Recycling Wall, Wentworth Building (G01), Level 2 (opposite food court)
Mallet Street
- Mallet St Building F (M02F), Reception
Camden Campus
- Centre for Carbon Water and Food (C02F), Level 2, Reception
- JL Shute Building (C01A), Reception
- PBI Administration and Laboratories A12 (C44-C45), Reception
A note on Lithium-ion battery recycling
When recycling lithium-ion batteries, it's important to handle them with care. Damaged batteries can release explosive, toxic gases and may even catch fire. It's recommended to tape the terminals using a non-conductive tape like clear sticky tape. If you can not remove the lithium battery from the device easily, do not attempt to. Instead, recycle the whole device at a Community Recycling Centre embedded batteries trial location. For more information please visit the Environment Protection Authority's website.
Biodegradable and compostable cups
Landfill: Currently the NSW EPA has ruled that these items can not be composted. They must all go into the red landfill bins.
Bottles
Recycle: Empty glass and plastic bottles can go in the yellow recycling bins or the purple container deposit bins.
C
Cans
Recycle: Empty cans can go in the yellow recycling bins or the purple container deposit bins.
Cardboard
Recycle: Clean cardboard free of sticky tape can go in the blue paper bins.
Chopsticks and cutlery (all disposable types)
Landfill: Wooden and bamboo chopsticks and cutlery must be thrown into the red landfill bins.
Coffee cups (all disposable types)
Landfill: Currently the NSW EPA has ruled that these items can not be composted. They must all go into the red landfill bins.
Compostable packaging
Landfill: Currently the NSW EPA has ruled that these items can not be composted. They must all go into the red landfill bins. This includes all biodegradable and compostable cups.
E
E-waste
Recycle: Small e-waste can be recycled at the Recycling Wall, Wentworth Building (G01), Level 2 (opposite food court).
F
Food waste
Recycle: Food waste can go in the green organics bins. To keep it clean, please only put in food items, not any packaging, plastics or wrapping.
G
Glass
Recycle: Empty glass bottles and jars can go in the yellow recycling bins or the purple container deposit bins.
O
Oral care products
Recycle: Tooth brushes (not electric), floss, toothpaste and tooth brush packaging can be recycled at the Recycling Wall, Wentworth Building (G01), Level 2 (opposite food court)
P
Paper
Recycle: Clean used paper can be recycled in the blue recycling bins.
Paper towels
Landfill: Used paper towels must be thrown into the red landfill bins.
Pens
Recycle: Used writing instruments can be recycled at the Recycling Wall, Wentworth Building (G01), Level 2 (opposite food court).
Pill blister packs
Recycle: Empty pill blister packs can be recycled at the Recycling Wall, Wentworth Building (G01), Level 2 (opposite food court).
Pizza boxes
Recycle: Clean pizza boxes can be recycled in the blue recycling bins.
Plastic wrappers
Landfill: Plastic wrappers, wrapping and packets must be placed in the red landfill bins.
S
Serviettes/napkins
Landfill: Used serviettes can not be recycled and must be thrown into red landfill bins.
Soft plastics
Landfill: Soft plastics that can be scrunched can not be recycled and must be placed into red landfill bins.
T
Take-away food containers
See:
Toner and ink cartridges
Recycle: Can be recycled at the Recycling Wall, Wentworth Building (G01), Level 2 (opposite food court).
W
Wooden cutlery
Landfill: Wooden and bamboo cutlery must be thrown into the red landfill bins.
Last updated: 06 February 2025
