FAQs

A Community Recycling Centre (CRC) is a place where you can drop off items that cannot go into your Red lid garbage bin and Yellow lid recycling bin.

These centres are designed to safely collect, sort, and process a wide range of recyclable materials that require special handling.

CRCs help make sure these items are reused, recycled or disposed of in the right way, playing a key role in conserving natural resources and supporting a more sustainable, circular economy.

We are currently investigating options to establish two CRCs in the Sutherland Shire. Council managed sites in Kurnell and Kareela have been identified as possible locations for CRCs.

The Kurnell site is expected to operate as the larger CRC, with longer opening hours and the ability to accept a wider range of problem waste items. 

The Kareela site is anticipated to operate as a smaller centre, with shorter opening hours and only able to accept a limited range of materials.

These sites have been selected based on safety, environmental and operational requirements.

No, there are no CRCs in the Sutherland Shire at the moment.

There are more than 90 operational CRCs in NSW. For a full list of CRCs, visit the NSW EPA website.

Sutherland Shire Council’s Waste Management Strategy 2022–2042 outlines a commitment to exploring the feasibility and location of a CRC as part of a broader vision to establish a modern circular economy hub in the Sutherland Shire.

During community consultation for the Strategy, residents expressed a strong desire for more accessible recycling options—particularly for those hard-to-recycle items that don’t belong in kerbside bins.

CRCs play a vital role in supporting a circular economy by promoting sustainability and responsible waste management. They provide a convenient solution for disposing of recyclable materials that aren’t accepted through regular kerbside collections or clean-up services.

CRCs can help increase recycling rates and divert valuable resources from landfill. CRCs also offer a safe and sustainable way to dispose of household waste, especially hazardous materials, keeping them out of household bins and Council waste trucks and creating a safer environment for everyone.

A CRC will make it easier for residents to deal with problem waste and will help reduce illegal dumping and support better environmental outcomes across the community.

We are still in the early planning stage and design and construction have not started yet. A number of approvals are still required before the project can move forward.

If the proposal goes ahead, the Kareela CRC is expected to open in 2027, with the Kurnell CRC to follow in 2028. These timeframes may change as planning progresses.

We will continue to share updates and keep the community informed as the project develops.

The CRC will accept a range of problem waste items approved under EPA guidelines.

The exact items accepted at each CRC are still being worked through. This will depend on safety and regulatory requirements, as well as feedback from the community, and will be confirmed as planning progresses.

Typically, the following items are accepted at CRCs:

• Paint and paint tins
• Motor oils
• Household batteries
• Car batteries
• Gas bottles
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguishers
• Fluoro globes and tubes

Some items that are not always included in CRCs, but may be accepted in ours include:

• Mattresses
• Whitegoods
• Scrap metals
• Soft plastics
• E-waste
• Textiles and clothing
• Printer cartridges
• X-ray film
• Polystyrene

At this stage, it is proposed that all NSW residents would be able to use our CRCs.
We are still exploring whether certain materials that incur higher disposal costs may be limited to Sutherland Shire residents only e.g. mattresses. This will be determined following further investigation as the project progresses.

Most items will be free to drop off at CRCs.

CRCs are for household use only and do not accept commercial waste. Items will need to be in household-sized quantities, with containers no larger than 20 litres or 20 kilograms. 

All problem waste collected is sent to specialist recyclers and processors to ensure it is managed safely and responsibly. Materials are sorted so valuable components can be recovered and reused, while hazardous elements are treated appropriately.

Recyclable items placed in the Yellow-lid recycling bin are collected and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where they are sorted and processed using machinery designed for common household recyclables.

Some recyclable items cannot be processed through this system because they require specialised handling, different recycling processes, or pose safety risks for collection trucks and facility staff.

However, just because an item cannot go in the Yellow-lid bin does not mean it cannot be recycled. Many of these types of items could be taken to a CRC where they are managed through processes better suited to their material type.

This allows more materials to be recovered safely and responsibly, rather than going to landfill.

We don’t anticipate significant increases in local traffic. Traffic impacts will be assessed as the project progresses, with operating hours, site layout and access all considered as part of the design to manage traffic safely.

The CRCs would only collect and temporarily store materials until they are picked up and processed at a different facility. 

No processing is anticipated to be completed on CRC sites and CRCs collect materials that do not decompose or produce odours. 

Impacts are typically low and managed through various design and control measures.

As part of this service, we’re exploring the concept of a Circular Economy Hub and Education Centre (CEHEC).

The Circular Economy Hub would be a space dedicated to keeping valuable materials in use for longer by rethinking how we reuse, repair, and repurpose items. The goal is to support a circular economy by finding innovative ways to recover materials collected at the CRC giving them a second life.

The Education Centre would be a welcoming, community-focused space where people can come together to learn about waste reduction, sustainability, and circular living. It could host workshops, talks, and hands-on activities to help residents build practical skills and knowledge for living more sustainably.

A circular economy is about keeping materials in use for as long as possible. Instead of throwing things away, items are reused, repaired or recycled so less waste goes to landfill and fewer new resources are needed.

This is done by:

• Reusing items instead of throwing them away
• Repairing and refurbishing products to extend their life
• Recycling materials so they can be turned into new products
• Rethinking how products are designed to reduce waste and pollution from the start

The goal is to create a ‘closed-loop system’ where waste is minimised, resources are conserved, and environmental impacts are reduced. It’s about shifting from a ‘throwaway culture’ to one that values sustainability and long-term thinking.

CRCs follow strict safety and handling requirements. The materials which would be collected at the proposed CRCs are contained within the building itself and safely stored using EPA guidelines.

You can share your feedback on how you currently manage items that cannot go in household bins, what you find hardest to dispose of, and whether you would use a local Community Recycling Centre.

Consultation will be open from 3 February to 17 March 2026.

All feedback received will be reviewed and used to help shape how the CRCs are designed and operate.

By registering to Join the Conversation, you help us better understand your needs and make sure everyone has a fair opportunity to share their views. 

This helps to: 

✅ Prevent duplicate responses

💬 Encourage responsible and genuine feedback

🔐 Protect your information and privacy

Your registered contributions help us shape initiatives that matter most to our community.

We are still only in an early investigation phase for the proposed CRCs, so some details are not final yet.

Following community consultation in early 2026, Council will finalise the service delivery model (i.e. how the CRC will be set up and run). This includes things like how the CRC will operate day-to-day, opening hours, staffing, traffic management, and exactly how residents will use the site.

Once this work is complete, we will provide clear and practical information to help residents use the CRC safely and confidently. 

This will include:

• how the drop-off process will work
• what preparation is needed before you arrive
• safety requirements on site
• what specific items are accepted 
• any local conditions specific to each CRC location.

This information will be shared well before the CRC opens, so residents have plenty of time to understand how the service works and what to expect.

Council offers a range of services and information to help residents manage household waste and recycling.

To learn more, visit Waste and recycling | Sutherland Shire Council