Imagine walking among broken chairs and plates and swimming next to a dumped fridge. It's dangerous and uncomfortable – for humans and the native wildlife living in our neighbourhood – but that's what happens when people decide to dump illegally.
The City of Ryde is home to a rich biodiversity. Protected areas such as the Field of Mars Reserve and Lane Cove National Park are home to native wildlife including echidnas and bandicoots. Like all animals, they thrive in a clean environment. It is crucial that our environment is kept clean of litter and illegally dumped goods so that future generations can enjoy them as much as we do.
You can make a difference simply by disposing of unwanted goods or rubbish correctly through Council's many waste and recycling collection services.
Here are five free solutions to problem waste and hard-to-recycle items.
Book a free RecycleSmart collection
The City of Ryde has partnered with RecycleSmart for a 12-month trial to provide residents with a service that collects and recycles hard-to-recycle items. RecycleSmart will collect straight from your doorstop selected items that can be recycled but can't go in your recycling bin. Material collected includes soft plastics, textiles, and polystyrene. This service is only available to City of Ryde residents.
Recycle your old television and computer with a free electronic waste collection
Book a free pick up for your old television or computer with our Television and Computer Collection Service. These items contain recyclable material including metals that can be given a second life. Simply call Council's Customer Service Centre on 9952 8222 and choose the third option to make a booking.
Visit a Problem Waste Station or visit the Community Recycling Centre
Drop off batteries, household lightbulbs and mobile phones at one of our nine problem waste stations located in libraries and shopping centres within the City of Ryde.
For those hard-to-recycle items including motor oil or smoke detectors, visit the Community Recycling Centre (CRC) located at 8 Waltham Road in Artarmon for a free drop off. The centre will take household quantities of up to 20 litres or 20 kilograms of material per customer per drop off. Please note the CRC is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays but is open on Saturdays and Sundays.
Rehome your unwanted items
Do you have unwanted items too good to throw out? Try re-homing them to family or friends. Online platforms including 'Gumtree' and 'Marketplace' offer alternative avenues to help you to either sell or giveaway those pre-loved items.
As a last resort, you can book a Household CleanUp Collection online or by contacting your building manager. Please note that this is a popular service during the holiday period, so book your collection service early to secure a collection date. Terms and conditions also apply.
Report illegal dumping
Have you seen illegal dumping? Make sure to report it to Council either online (available 24/7) or by calling 9952 8222 during opening hours, and include any details like the offending vehicles registration. By reporting illegal dumping, you are assisting Council with the investigation and in preventing further dumping of rubbish on our streets.
