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Shellharbour bin day & collection schedule

Shellharbour City Council · NSW 2529

Schedule data last verified: July 2026

Shellharbour waste collection overview

Shellharbour is a NSW suburb in postcode 2529, served by Shellharbour City Council for kerbside waste, recycling and organics collection.

The suburb sits roughly 100km S of Sydney CBD.

Locals know it for the the historic Shellharbour Village and its 1830s wharf.

This page summarises the bin schedule, recycling rules and council details that apply to Shellharbour. For the live schedule for your specific address, enter it on the home page.

Key facts

  • Council: Shellharbour City Council
  • Postcode: 2529
  • Location: 100km S of Sydney CBD
  • State: NSW

Which bins does Shellharbour have?

Shellharbour City Council provides the following kerbside bins in Shellharbour. Each has a different frequency, so the bins you put out vary week to week.

  • General Waste, collected fortnightly.
  • Recycling, collected fortnightly.
  • Garden Waste, collected weekly.

Shellharbour bin day at a glance

You know the bay is close when the wind changes direction the night before bin day.

Every suburb has its rhythms. Knowing your collection day is part of knowing your street.

About your council's collection service

Shellharbour falls under Shellharbour City Council for waste and recycling collections.

  • This council operates a standard three-bin kerbside service: general waste (red lid), recycling (yellow lid), and garden organics (green lid).
  • Collections are typically fortnightly, with recycling and organics alternating each week.
  • Your exact collection day depends on your street. Enter your address above to find it.
  • Your specific collection day depends on your street. Enter your address above to find yours.

Visit Shellharbour City Council website for the official policy and any service updates.

What goes where: batteries

Correct bin: Neither bin. Drop off at Bunnings or a council facility..

Batteries can cause fires in both collection trucks and at sorting facilities. Bunnings stores, some councils, and battery retailers accept used batteries for safe recycling.

Avoid: Don't put batteries in any kerbside bin, not even the general waste bin.

Frequently asked questions

What goes in the yellow recycling bin?

The yellow-lid bin accepts paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium cans, and rigid plastic containers (bottles, tubs, trays). Soft plastics, food waste, and contaminated packaging don't belong in it.

What counts as contamination?

Contamination means putting the wrong items in the recycling bin: food-soiled packaging, soft plastics, clothing, electrical items, or anything not specifically accepted kerbside. High contamination can cause an entire truck load to be sent to landfill.

Are bottle caps recyclable?

Metal screw-top lids from glass jars and bottles can stay on when you put them in the yellow bin. Small plastic caps on plastic bottles should generally be removed, as they're often a different plastic type. Large plastic lids from takeaway containers are fine in recycling.

Nearby suburbs

The bay suburbs each run their own collection schedules. Here are the closest ones to check.

Shell CoveOak FlatsWarilla

Quick tips for bin night

  • Two rules, both matter. There is a correct bin. There is a correct night. These are two different things and both matter.
  • Holiday weeks shuffle the schedule. Long weekends quietly push collections back a day. Check the council notice before a public holiday so you're not chasing the truck down the street.
  • Rinse before you bin it. Your recycling doesn't clean itself. A 10-second rinse now saves sorting staff hours later and keeps your bin from becoming a science experiment.

Get the schedule for your street

Bin days in Shellharbour vary by street and zone. Enter your address on the home page to see the next collection date for every bin.

Find my bin day