Resident Information - Waste Facts
Council's waste collection service comprises three complementary components - a weekly garbage service, a fortnightly recycling and green waste service. The service aims to maximise the amount of materials recycled and reduce the volume of rubbish being disposed to landfill.
'The introduction of the new service in 1998 has resulted in considerable gains in waste reduction. The service also includes a separate garden organics collection which diverted more than 12,500 tonnes in 1999. Parramatta has now achieved a 40% reduction in municipal waste per capita from 1990 levels. This is the greatest reduction for any local government area in the Board's region.
Accordingly, there is a corresponding increase in kerbside recycling collections, with Parramatta achieving the highest levels of recycling per capita for any Council in the region.
Paper and cardboard accounts for nearly 80% of the recycled content.
Garbage Collection
A weekly collection service is provided to all residents collected at the kerb on a specific weekday. Single dwelling residents have the option of a 140 or 240 litre mobile bin. Residents of flats, townhouses or villas are supplied with a 140 litre bin.
Is there a cost difference between the bin sizes?
YES. If you opt for a 140 litre bin, your annual waste charge on your rates is $232.40 for a 140L bin, $350.30 for a 240L bin.
How do I change the size of my bin?
The owner of the property must submit the request to Council in writing acknowledging the difference in cost.
How can I dispose of excess rubbish?
From July 2006 to December 2006 Council will be trialling a zoned clean-up service where each zone will be entitled to 2 scheduled free clean-ups over the 6 month period. WSN Environmental Solutions will notify residents by mail 2 weeks prior to their scheduled clean-up service with details of what can be placed on the kerbside. For further information on the scheduled date for your area contact WSN on 8887 6161. The material placed out for collection must not exceed 1 cubic metre (1m x 1m). Branches must be tied in bundles of 40cm diameter and no longer than 1.5m in length (4 1/2 foot). We regret that we are unable to collect branches that are not tied and bundled. Materials may only be placed on the nature strip area on the Sunday night before your Clean Up Service is due. Also all doors must be removed from fridges & ovens for safety reasons. These items cannot be removed by the Clean Up Service; Household Garbage, Gas Bottles, Industrial or Trade Waste, Concrete, Dirt or Demolition Material, Stumps and large logs, Paint, Oil, Chemicals (full or empty tins), Glass, Corrugated Iron, and any material that may be offensive, dangerous or too heavy for two people to handle.
Recycling
A 240 litre mobile bin is provided to each dwelling with unit, townhouse and villa units sharing one between every two units.
Is there an additional cost for the recycling service?
NO. The fortnightly recycling and green waste services are included in the overall waste charge.
What can I recycle?
- Glass bottles and jars
- PET, HDPE and PVC plastics
- Aluminium and steel cans
- Milk and juice cartons
- Cardboard, newspapers and magazines
What can't be recycled?
- Plastic bags
- Margarine containers
- Ceramic, cookware and cutlery
- Plastic meat trays
- Pizza boxes contaminated with food wastes
- Food wastes
- Plastics with a 4 or 5 on the bottom of the container
Garden Waste Service
Garden waste is collected the alternate fortnight to the recycling.
What materials can I put in my garden waste bin?
- Flowers
- Lawn clippings
- Leaves
- Twigs and prunings
- Weeds
What can't I place in the bin?
- Food wastes
- Fruit and vegetables
- Large stumps and logs
- Paper
- Pet droppings
- Plastic bags
- Soil
- Timber
What happens to the garden waste collected?
All material collected is taken to Australian Native Landscape's site at Eastern Creek where the organic material is shredded, composted and returned to the market place in 'Greenlife' Garden to Garden products.
How can I dispose of larger garden waste materials, such as tree prunings and loppings?
You can contact WSN Environment Solutions on 8887 6161 to check when your area will receive a Scheduled Zoned Clean Up, all materials will need to be tied in bundles and cut down to not more than 1.2 metres in length and 40cm in diameter.
| Local landfill and transfer stations (tips) |
| AUBURN |
Hill Road |
| EASTERN CREEK |
Wallgrove Road |
| RYDE |
Wicks Road |
| SEVEN HILLS |
Powers Road |
Contact WSN Environment Solutions on 1300 651 116 for more information.
What are the charges at the tips?
Charges vary, so it is advisable to ring your local facility.
What materials are accepted FREE?
- Scrap metal, fridges, stoves and washing machines
- Up to 20 litres of sump oil
- Car batteries
- Separated recyclable material ie. cardboard, paper, glass, plastics, etc.
How can I dispose of chemicals and paints?
Department Of Environment & Conservation (NSW) and Council’s work together to provide annual drop off centres where residents can drop off their old or leftover chemicals from around the home. Some of the household chemicals accepted include; pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, weed killers, oils, petrol, paints and medicines. Weekend end drop off centres have been organised throughout the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions, details of dates and locations can be found by contacting Council’s Waste Management Team on 9806 5544 or Department of Environment & Conservation (NSW) on 1300 787 870 or website www.cleanout.com.au
Safe Disposal of Needles and Syringes
Needles and syringes are being placed in garbage, recycling and garden waste bins, resulting in occupational health and safety risks to workers at waste and recycling centres.
To address this problem, Parramatta City Council in conjunction with selected local pharmacies has introduced a safe needle disposal scheme for people with diabetes, haemophilia and other conditions that require sharps disposal.
What are sharps?
Sharps are objects that are intended for cutting or penetrating the skin. They include:
- Needles, a syringe with needle, intravenous giving sets, lancets and scalpel blades.
How should I handle my sharps?
People who generate sharps should ensure they are stored correctly so that there is no risk of injury to anyone who may come into contact with the waste.
- Sharps should be stored in an appropriate rigid puncture proof container eg a 'yellow' sharps container.
- Sharps waste containers should be stored in a secure location so children cannot access the container.
- When the sharps container is full, seal the lid firmly.
Where can I purchase a sharps container?
Sharps waste containers can be purchased from local pharmacies or by contacting Diabetes Australia on 9552 9900.
Where do I dispose of my sharps container?
Sharps waste containers can be taken to the following participating pharmacies for disposal.
TELOPEA - Telopea Pharmacy, Benaud Place
CARLINGFORD - Negis Pharmacy, Pennant Hills Road
ERMINGTON - Soul Pattinson Pharmacy, Betty Cuthbert Avenue
PARRAMATTA - Terry White Chemists, Shop 2130 Westfields Shopping Town
WINSTON HILLS - Chisholm Centre Pharmacy, Churchill Drive
WENTWORTHVILLE - Old Toongabbie Pharmacy, Emma Crescent
WESTMEAD - McBeaths Pharmacy, Westmead (opp. Westmead Hospital)
GUILDFORD - Excel Pharmacy, Cnr Excelsior & Constance Streets
GUILDFORD - Johns Pharmacy, Guildford Road
What is the cost for sharps disposal?
There are no costs associated with the disposal of your sharps waste container at participating pharmacies.
What to do if you find a syringe/needle?
For the removal of needles and syringes found in public places contact NSW Health Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353 or Parramatta City Council on 9806 5000.
If you require any further information please contact Council's Waste Management Team on 9806 5544.
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