Resource recovery centres
Find out what you can take to a resource recovery centre, also known as the ‘rubbish tip’. View locations and disposal fees.
What is a resource recovery centre?
Resource recovery centres have recycling and waste facilities to help you recycle and reduce the amount of household waste ending up in landfill.
Council's 4 resource recovery centres collect waste that residents can’t put in their household bin because of the volume, quantity or nature of the items. This incudes bulky, recyclable and hazardous waste.
Disposal options and fees
- Landfills are different to resource recovery centres.
- Most recyclable and reusable items can be disposed of for free.
- There are fees to dispose of general and green waste. You can use waste vouchers to cover part or all of this cost.
Locations and opening hours
There are 4 resource recovery centres in Brisbane, located in Chandler, Ferny Grove, Nudgee and Willawong.
The centres are open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Look inside the centres
Take a virtual tour of Council's resource recovery centres to help you find your way around on your visit.
Recyclable items
Council’s resource recovery centres accept a wide range of recyclable or reusable items free of charge. Recyclable items are then processed and good-quality reusable items are donated to the Treasure Troves.
These items include:
- batteries (e.g. sizes AAA-D, button batteries, rechargeable, lithium, lead acid car batteries, regular solar batteries, power bank batteries)
- cardboard and paper
- clean polystyrene
- cooking oil (up to 20 litres)
- electronic waste
- engine oil (up to 100 litres in total and 20 litres per container)
- fire extinguishers (up to 9 kg each)
- fluorescent lighting tubes and bulbs
- gas bottles (up to 6, 9 kg bottles)
- hard plastics (e.g. buckets, chairs, crates, containers, gardening pots, tubs)
- metal (e.g. steel, tin, iron, copper, aluminium, cast-iron pipes, trailers)
- machinery (e.g. whipper snippers, lawn mowers)
- mobile phones
- paint (up to 100 litres in total and 20 litres per container)
- recyclable household items (e.g. aluminium cans, cardboard, paper, glass bottles, jars)
- small household appliances and equipment with a power source (e.g. toasters, kettles)
- white goods and large appliances (e.g. fridges, washing machines, dryers, freezers, air conditioners, ovens, cooktops).
Visit Planet Ark for information about other recycling and disposal options.
General waste items
General waste that can’t fit in your household bin can be disposed of at resource recovery centres. You can use a waste voucher or pay a fee.
Green waste
Recycle green waste at a resource recovery centre. You can use a waste voucher or pay a fee.
Green waste material comes from the garden and includes:
- grass clippings
- loose bark
- leaves, palm fronds, twigs and branches
- prunings from shrubs and trees
- weeds, ivy, creepers and vines.
You can also recycle your garden waste with our green waste recycling service.
Hazardous waste
The following items can be taken to resource recovery centres outside of scheduled free hazardous waste drop-off days:
- batteries including household batteries (sizes AAA-D), lithium and rechargeable batteries (e-bikes, e-scooters, rechargeable tools) and lead acid car batteries
- empty gas bottles
- fluorescent light bulbs and tubes
- motor and gear oils (100-litre limit)
- paint, water or oil-based paint.
Resource recovery centres do not accept:
- asbestos
- household hazardous waste (except on free hazardous waste drop-off days)
- tyres
- quantities of soil, concrete and masonry are not accepted for commercial quantities (equivalent to a truckload or more).
Prepare your waste
Learn how to efficiently pack your load before visiting a resource recovery centre.
When visiting your local resource recovery centre, it’s important to plan your trip before you arrive.
Sorting your load by grouping similar items together can save you time, money, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Pack your general waste items first, towards the front of your vehicle or trailer.
Next, pack your green waste items, such as palm fronds and garden clippings.
Group hazardous waste items, such as paint and oil.
Split up your e-waste, batteries and hard plastic items.
Flatten cardboard boxes and separate metals.
Finally, pack your Treasure Trove donations last, as this will be your first stop at the centre.
Make sure to cover and secure your load and bring a mate along to help unload heavy items.
Remember to wear enclosed shoes and protective clothing, such as gloves and glasses, to the resource recovery centres.
When you arrive, you’ll be directed by the gatehouse staff to the various drop-off points. Children under 12 and family pets must remain in your vehicles at all times.
Fees and charges
There are different charges for domestic and commercial waste services.
Disposal fees are charged according to:
-
vehicle type
-
load weight.
Domestic waste
| Waste type | Load weight | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General waste (mixed general waste and green waste) | Up to 500kg | $17.40 |
| Green waste only | Up to 500kg | $14.60 |
| More than 5 cubic metres of polystyrene (or similar lightweight material) |
$1,484.80 per load plus $307.80 per tonne |
| Waste type | Load weight | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General waste (mixed general waste and green waste) | Up to 100kg | $17.40 |
| 100kg to 500kg | $48.00 | |
| Each tonne above 500kg | $182.60 | |
| Green waste only | Up to 100kg | $14.60 |
| 100kg to 500kg | $24.40 | |
| Each tonne above 500kg | $120.00 | |
| More than 5 cubic metres of polystyrene (or similar lightweight material) |
$1,484.80 per load plus $307.80 per tonne |
| Waste type | Load weight | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General waste (mixed general waste and green waste) | Each tonne | $307.80 |
| Green waste only | Each tonne | $120.00 |
| More than 5 cubic metres of polystyrene (or similar lightweight material) |
$1,484.80 per load plus $307.80 per tonne |
Commercial waste
| Waste type | Load weight | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General waste (mixed general waste and green waste) | Up to 100kg | $30.00 |
| 100kg to 500kg | $106.00 | |
| Each tonne above 500kg | $307.80 | |
| Green waste only | Up to 100kg | $14.60 |
| 100kg to 500kg | $24.40 | |
| Each tonne above 500kg | $120.00 | |
| More than 5 cubic metres of polystyrene (or similar lightweight material) |
$1,484.80 per load plus $307.80 per tonne |
| Waste type | Load weight | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| General waste (mixed general waste and green waste) | Each tonne | $307.80 |
| Green waste only | Each tonne | $120.00 |
| More than 5 cubic metres of polystyrene (or similar lightweight material) |
$1,484.80 per load plus $307.80 per tonne |
Demolition and Asbestos Industry Association (Qld) Inc members (DAIA)
DAIA members can access fees and charges for uncontaminated green waste only. Members cannot use waste and green waste vouchers.
The following fees and charges apply.
All vehicles with a 4.5-tonne combined gross vehicle mass (CGVM) and under:
-
up to 100 kg of waste: $14.00
-
100 kg to 500 kg of waste: $23.20
-
each tonne of waste above 500 kg: $92.80.
All other vehicle combinations with a CGVM more than 4.5 tonnes:
- each tonne of waste: $92.80.
Payment options
Resource recovery centres accept payment by cash, cheque, EFTPOS or credit card (Mastercard or Visa only).
You can also set up a commercial account for your business. A commercial account allows you to pay:
- online
- at Australia Post
- by visiting a Customer Centre
- by phone pay (Visa or Mastercard - phone 1300 309 311 and follow the prompts)
- by BPAY (contact your bank to set up BPAY)
- by cheque or money order to:
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1090
Brisbane Qld 4001
To set up a commercial account:
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
You can take certain recyclable items to Council's resource recovery centres for free.
You can also use waste vouchers to dispose of general and green waste, free of charge.
Find more information about what you can take to the centres.
Yes, there are vehicle load size limits at Council's resource recovery centres. This helps to ensure fair use of our centres and reduce wait times.
Vehicles with a combined gross vehicle mass (CGVM) more than 4 tonnes can only access the resouce recovery centres in Nudgee and Willawong.
Find more information about vehicle load limits and fees.
You can dispose of e-waste at a resource recovery centre in Brisbane. This includes batteries, vapes, large appliances, lighting, mobile phones and small household appliances.
Don’t dispose of e-waste in rubbish, recycling or green waste bins at home.
Learn more about e-waste disposal.
You can recycle paint through the Paintback Australia program.
Liquid paint (lead or other) of up to 100 litres can be disposed of at Council's resource recovery centres, with a maximum limit of 20 litres per container.
Empty paint tins can be disposed of at the metal recycling area at resource recovery centres, or in household rubbish or recycling bins.
Small quantities of leftover paint can be solidified by using the following methods:
- add the remaining paint to an absorbent such as kitty litter, grass clippings, soil, or sand. Dry out in a well-ventilated and secure area
- pour it onto newspaper, cover it with an absorbent material and leave it to solidify.
You can dispose of hazardous waste at Council’s during free household hazardous waste drop-off days.
Learn more about household hazardous waste disposal.
You can recycle empty gas bottles at Council's resource recovery centres. This includes LPG (e.g. barbeque), butane, helium or propane gas bottles.
You can drop off up to 6 standard 9-kilogram bottles. They must be in good condition (not damaged or leaking).
The cost to dispose of green waste in Brisbane depends on the amount of waste you're getting rid of. You can also use waste vouchers to dispose of green waste for free.
Find out about fees for disposing of green waste.