Cardboard recycling near me in Melbourne
Searching for cardboard recycling near you? Australian Waste Management collects paper and cardboard from homes, offices, shops, warehouses, factories and schools across Greater Melbourne and Geelong, and runs a drop-off yard in Truganina for loads you would rather bring in yourself. This page explains your options so you can choose the right one for your premises, then book online or call 1300 292 783.
Three ways to recycle cardboard in Melbourne
Every business produces cardboard differently. A café might flatten a few boxes a day, a retailer can fill a bin after every delivery, and a warehouse may bale it by the pallet. We offer three options so the service matches the volume rather than the other way round.
1. Scheduled cardboard bin collection
For steady volumes, we supply paper and cardboard recycling wheelie bins from 240 litre up to 1100 litre. Collections can be weekly, fortnightly, 4-weekly or at call, depending on your location and how much you produce, and there is no minimum or maximum number of bins. You can check your suburb and order online on our paper and cardboard recycling collection page.
2. Free collections for qualifying businesses
Australian Waste Management is one of the few remaining companies that still offers free paper and cardboard recycling collections to select customers. Whether you qualify depends on factors such as your location, the volume and the type of material. Fill in the short form on our free cardboard recycling page and our team will contact you.
3. Drop off at our Truganina yard
If you have a one-off pile of boxes after a move, a stocktake or a fit-out, you can bring paper and cardboard to our yard in Truganina VIC 3029, Monday to Friday 9am–5pm. Drop-off is a paid service; see the cardboard recycling drop-off page for current charges and what to bring, and call ahead for directions.
Need a single pickup instead of a regular service? An urgent or once-off collection can clear paper, cardboard and other waste in one visit.
What cardboard and paper we accept
We can recycle almost any paper or cardboard product, including:
- Cardboard boxes, cartons and cardboard tubes
- Baled or flattened cardboard
- Newspapers, magazines, brochures and catalogues
- Office paper, coloured paper, brown recycled paper and shredded paper
- Window-faced envelopes and hand towel
You do not need to remove paperclips, staples, bull clips or plastic pockets, because our sorting and recycling process handles them. Please keep food scraps, liquids, general rubbish and soft plastics out of your cardboard bin. Bottles, cans and hard plastics belong in a commingled recycling bin, and everything else in general waste collection.
Confidential paperwork is different. Invoices, payroll records and client files should go through secure document destruction so they are shredded with a certificate of destruction, not mixed with ordinary cardboard.
Melbourne service areas
Our collection runs cover Greater Melbourne and the Geelong region. Typical areas include:
- Melbourne CBD and inner suburbs: Melbourne, Docklands, Southbank, Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond, South Yarra, Prahran, Port Melbourne and St Kilda.
- Western suburbs: Footscray, Sunshine, Altona, Laverton, Derrimut, Truganina, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee and surrounding industrial estates.
- Northern suburbs: Brunswick, Coburg, Essendon, Airport West, Bundoora, Heidelberg and Doncaster.
- Eastern suburbs: Hawthorn, Camberwell, Balwyn, Box Hill, Burwood, Ringwood and Bayswater.
- South-east and bayside: Caulfield, Carnegie, Bentleigh, Clayton, Dandenong, Berwick, Cranbourne, Mordialloc and Frankston.
- Mornington Peninsula and Geelong: Mornington, Dromana, Hastings, Geelong, Belmont and Bacchus Marsh.
Coverage and collection days vary by suburb. Enter your postcode on our coverage page, or call us, to confirm the service and frequency available at your address. Even hard-to-reach sites can usually be catered for.
Why use a dedicated cardboard recycling service?
Cardboard takes up a lot of room. Left in a general waste bin it fills the bin quickly, so you end up paying for extra collections, and the cardboard goes to landfill instead of being recycled. A separate cardboard bin keeps it clean and dry so it can be recycled, frees up space in your waste bins, and gives staff one obvious place to put boxes.
Our proprietary system uses GPS to track collection drivers and capture images, which lets us monitor collections and make sure they are completed accurately. Collection frequencies and bin locations can be tailored to your site. If you are unsure which bin size or frequency you need, tell us roughly how many boxes you go through in a week and we will suggest a starting point you can adjust later.
How to get started
- Check your suburb on the coverage page.
- Choose a scheduled bin, apply for a free collection, or plan a drop-off.
- Order online or call 1300 292 783, and we will arrange delivery of your bin and your first collection.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I recycle cardboard near me in Melbourne?
Businesses and homes in our Greater Melbourne and Geelong coverage area can have paper and cardboard collected on site in 240L to 1100L bins. You can also drop paper and cardboard off at our Truganina yard, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Do you offer free cardboard recycling?
Free paper and cardboard recycling collections are available to select qualifying businesses. Submit the enquiry form on our free cardboard recycling page or call 1300 292 783 to check whether your site qualifies.
What bin sizes and collection frequencies are available?
Paper and cardboard recycling bins range from 240 litres to 1100 litres. Collections can be weekly, fortnightly, 4-weekly or at call, depending on your location and requirements.
Do I need to remove staples, tape or plastic sleeves?
No. You do not need to remove paperclips, staples, bull clips or plastic pockets, because our sorting and recycling process handles them. Please keep food, liquids and general rubbish out of the bin.
Can I put confidential documents in my cardboard bin?
We recommend using our secure document destruction service for confidential papers so they are shredded and you receive a certificate of destruction, rather than placing them in an open recycling bin.
Which Melbourne suburbs do you cover?
We service Greater Melbourne, including the CBD, inner, western, northern, eastern and south-eastern suburbs, the Mornington Peninsula and the Geelong region. Check your postcode on our coverage page to confirm availability.
