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Mixed Recycling Collection

The yellow-lid bin. Accepts rigid plastics, glass bottles, aluminium cans, steel cans, and paper together—no sorting required. The sorting happens at the materials recovery facility.

Common for:

Offices with kitchen areas, cafes collecting customer containers, any business generating bottles and cans. Adding a commingled bin typically reduces your general waste volume by 20-30%.

What goes in commingled recycling

Rigid plastic containers (bottles, tubs, containers numbered 1-7), glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans, clean paper and cardboard. Items should be empty but don't need to be spotless—a quick rinse is enough.

What can't go in: soft plastics (bags, cling wrap, chip packets—these jam sorting machinery), styrofoam, coffee cups (plastic-lined), heavily contaminated items, or anything with food still in it. Contamination can spoil entire batches of recyclables.

Adding a commingled bin typically reduces your general waste volume by 20-30%. If your staff kitchen generates bottles and cans, or you serve customers who leave drink containers, this stream pays for itself.

Which size for your business

Offices with kitchen areas usually manage with 240L. Cafes collecting customer recyclables often need 660L. Shopping centre food courts and large hospitality venues go for 1100L or front-lift. Watch your first few collections—if the bin's overflowing, size up.