Household chemicals

In conjunction with the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), we host free bi-annual Household Chemical CleanOut events across two locations (Kincumber and Long Jetty). Upcoming Household Chemical CleanOut events are listed in our event calendar. If there is no current listing, the next event dates are still to be confirmed.

To find out more information on upcoming chemical collection dates, accepted products or storing/transporting unwanted chemicals, refer to the NSW Household Chemical CleanOut website.

This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

Community Recycling Centre

The Community Recycling Centre is located at the Buttonderry Waste Management Facility. The facility is purpose-built for residential customers only. To see which problem items are accepted for free at the Community Recycling Centre, visit the EPA Community Recycling Centre website.

In addition to the acceptable CRC items, the below recyclable items are accepted free of charge at Buttonderry and Woy Woy Waste Management Facilities:

• Paint - The Community Recycling Centre is the ONLY Waste Management Facility where paint can be dropped off by residents (refer to the Community Recycling Centre heading for more information)
• Scrap Metals – Any product predominately metal, whitegoods, bikes, trampolines, car bodies and car tyres with rims on.
• Cardboard – Household quantities only (up to 200kg). Items not accepted: tissues boxes, paper towels, wax coated UHT/long life cartons/Tetra Paks, disposable coffee cups or items contaminated with food.
• Paper – Household quantities only of newspaper, magazines, brochures, wrapping paper, cards, office paper and envelopes. Items not accepted: shredded, laminated or cellophane items.
• E-Waste – Any electrical product with a cord that does not contain liquid including: televisions, computers and laptops, hard drives, keyboards, scanners, printers, photocopiers, fax machines, audio equipment, speakers, electronic tools and garden equipment, household small appliances, video/DVD players, cameras, mobile phones, game consoles and vacuum cleaners. Residential customers only.
• Glass – Bottles and jars (no flat glass). Residential customers only.
• Aluminium – Cans and scrunched foil, tins and empty aerosol spray cans. Residential customers only.
• Batteries – Any lead acid car, marine and household batteries.
• Motor oil - Maximum 20 litres.
• Fluorescent lights - Maximum 12.
• Plastic - PET/HDPE bottles.
• Polystyrene – accepted at Buttonderry Waste Management Facility

Batteries and light globes

Batteries and fluorescent lights contain harmful elements such as mercury, alkaline and lead acid, which can cause major environmental hazards and can also pose health risks if they end up in landfill. 

Council has a free recycling program for residents to bring in their unwanted batteries, light globes, mobile phones and fluorescent tubes to nominated collection points.

• Please do not place these items into your general waste bins, as they may catch fire in the waste collection trucks or onsite at our landfills and pose a safety threat to workers or other community members in the vicinity.
• Before throwing out anything battery operated such as children’s toys, laptops, vapes, solar powered devices or hand tools, remember to remove the batteries first. 
• Please remove the battery, tape the terminals with clear sticky tape and dispose of the battery safely. 
• Fluorescent tubes and light globes must be clean and unbroken to be accepted.

Drop-off locations

Batteries, light globes and mobile phones (and accessories) are able to be dropped off at Buttonderry and Woy Woy Waste Management Facilities. 

Batteries can also be dropped off for recycling at local ‘B-cycle’ drop off locations.

The free recycling of batteries and light globes is made possible by funding through the NSW EPA's Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.

Needles, sharps and syringes

Containers for disposing of used sharps, such as needles and syringes are provided at certain Council amenities buildings, parks and reserves and holiday parks for single-use purposes. 

Medical sharps can also be taken to participating pharmacies in a puncture resistant container (glass containers not accepted).  Specific purpose containers are available from participating pharmacies. See below pharmacies, parks and reserves and holiday parks for locations.

Syringe disposal bins can also be found within the hospital grounds of Gosford and Wyong hospitals.

For needles, sharps or syringes found within our community please contact either Council Customer Service on (02) 4306 7900 who will lodge a request to report an issue or call the Needle Clean Up Hotline on 1800 633 353 who will organise safe removal and disposal.

Council recommends you do not attempt to physically remove any needles as this will place yourself, others, and staff in serious risk of needle stick injury.