The household garden waste bin (commonly known as the green-lid bin) can be used to dispose of plant material like grass clippings from mowing the lawn. However, many homeowners make the mistake of assuming that the green bin can be used for all types of organic material, like wood.
Despite being a type of plant material, not all types of wood or timber can be disposed of in the green recycling bin. Understanding what types of wood material can and can’t go into the recycling bin goes a long way in ensuring proper recycling and composting processes when you’re doing garden work.
Table of Contents
- What can go in the green recycling bin?
- Types of wood that can go in the green bin
- Types of wood that CANNOT go in the green bin
- What can I do with wood that I can’t put in the green bin?
What can go in the green recycling bin?
The green recycling bins are only suitable for household garden waste. This includes waste items including:
- Grass clippings
- Weeds
- Small plants and shrubs (without attached pots or containers)
- Small quantities of fruit or vegetables from the garden
- Pruned branches and sticks (no more than 30cm in length)
The above types of green waste are generally accepted in green bins across all states and council areas in Australia. Some councils have slightly different rules for what is accepted in the green bin based on their waste processing arrangements — for example, some may list food scraps as an acceptable item for the green bin. Check with your local council for a clear list of what is allowed in the green lid bin.
Types of wood that can go in the green bin
Wood items can be disposed of in the household garden waste bin, but they must be untreated and small enough to fit in the bin.
Untreated wood refers to wood material that is in its raw form. Examples of untreated wood are freshly pruned branches or twigs from a tree in your garden, or wood logs that have not been sprayed or processed with chemicals.
Wood material should also fit easily into the bin while ensuring the lid still closes properly. Branches and logs should not be more than 30 cm in length, and stumps or small trunks should not be larger than 15cm in diameter.
Types of wood that CANNOT go in the green bin
There are types of wood that cannot be placed into the green bin — these include treated wood, oversized or large wood pieces, or wood items with foreign attachments.
Treated wood refers to wood that has been chemically cured through processing to repel fungus and insects like borers and termites that can break it down. Timber is a type of treated wood that is used for furniture like sofas, bed frames, and cabinets. The chemical repellents in this wood will contaminate the compost produced from organic recycling and cause it to be less effective in supporting plant growth.
Bulky or oversized wood pieces that do not fit into the bin should not be placed inside without first chopping them up into smaller bits. Big chunks of wood are very heavy and can potentially damage the recycling equipment during the collection process, and can cause jamming in the recycling process.
Wood pieces that have foreign implements such as nails or screws cannot be disposed of in the green bin. These materials pose a safety hazard to recycling personnel (who have to handle them) and can also interfere with the composting process. Check each piece of wood for any foreign attachments and remove them before putting them into the green bin (if they are untreated).
What can I do with wood that I can’t put in the green bin?
Wood waste that cannot go into the green bin can be difficult to dispose of. The bulky nature of wood objects makes it hard to handle, and depending on where you live, it can be challenging to transport the wood to a proper timber recycling facility. However, there are ways to get rid of unwanted wood or timber:
Repurpose it
Leftover timber that is still in good condition is ideal for reuse in other parts of the home. Spare wood planks can be used as repair materials for a shed, blocks of wood can be used in personal woodworking projects.
Donate or recycle it
There are organisations across Australia that accept used timber and wood items that will be broken down and reprocessed into other types of products. The best way to transport it to these locations (or a timber recycling facility) is to use a rubbish removal company that offers timber collection and recycling. Removalists will collect your unwanted wood and timber from your home and take it to where it needs to go, making it a fuss-free and easy way to get rid of it from your home.