Business waste and recycling
Single-use plastics banWaste program Tips to cut waste Waste collection
Reducing waste to landfill saves money. It’s simply good business.
NSW businesses send more than 2.5 million tonnes of business waste to landfill each year. Around 70% of that could be recycled or composted.
It’s cheaper to recycle packaging and food scraps than sending it to landfill. And it’s easier than you might think.
Single-use plastics ban
1 November 2022 – Let’s stop it and swap it
From 1 November 2022, NSW’s single use plastic ban came into effect. Businesses and community organisations can no longer use or supply a range of single-use plastic items. The ban includes single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, bowls and plates, polystyrene food service containers, cups, cotton buds, personal care products containing plastic microbeads.
Consumers are asked to swap single-use plastic items for reusable and sustainable alternatives to reduce the amount of waste we are generating.
This ban follows the lightweight plastic bag ban in place since 1 June 2022.
By changing our behaviour and the choices we make, we can make a huge collective difference to the Tweed's environment.
For more information visit the NSW EPA website.
Business waste program
Circulate Northern Rivers works with businesses to reduce waste, increase recycling and identify and support Circular Economy opportunities for businesses across the region.
Businesses will receive:
- a waste report for your business
- a waste management plan
- staff survey templates
- waste assessment forms
- ongoing support
This service is free and available to all Northern Rivers businesses.
The project also provides connections to other businesses, and support to access funding opportunities for making change.
Contact the project coordinator.
Tips to cut waste in your business
Let your customers know
Remember to promote your recycling and sustainability efforts to customers.
- Carry out an audit to understand exactly how much and the types of waste your business creates.
- Speak with your suppliers to provide alternatives made from recycled or recyclable materials and request minimal packaging.
- Ask staff for ideas on how to use less and recycle more.
- Set measurable targets to reduce your waste streams.
- Communicate the targets to staff and customers and get everyone on board.
- Label bins and put signs in place.
- Measure success as you become a more sustainable business.
Waste collection for businesses
Contact us
Call Council’s
Resource Recovery Unit
on 02 6670 2400.
Council offers wheelie bin collection services for businesses. Bins are available in a range of sizes. Other companies offer cages, bags and bulk bin services.
- Recycling bin: Clean paper, cardboard, metal tins, cans, glass bottles, plastic containers and bottles (no coffee cups).
- Organics bin: All food scraps, garden and lawn clippings only.
- Landfill bin: Items that can’t be recycled, reused or composted.
- Paper or cardboard recycling: Clean paper and cardboard only (not available through Council).
Recycle more and minimise your waste to landfill
| Bulk bin size |
Equal to this many
360 L recycling bins |
Equal to this many
240 L recycling bins |
| 0.76 m3 or 760 L |
2 |
3 |
| 1.52 m3 or 1520 L |
4 |
6 |
| 2.28 m3 or 2280 L |
6 |
9 |
| 3.04 m3 or 3040 L |
8 |
12 |
Cost for waste services
See Council’s
fees and charges.
For private providers, search ‘rubbish removal’.
Environmental benefits
Find out how much your organisation has saved by sending less waste to landfill using this
online calculator.
Signs for bins
Click on the images below to download bin signs for your business.