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At the Community Recycling Centre (CRC) at 8 Waltham Street, Artarmon, you can drop off household problem waste that can’t go in your kerbside bins.
This is a free service with no bookings or appointments. The CRC is a drive-through facility. For the safety of staff and members of the public, we are unable to accept customer walk-ins. Please follow staff members' instructions at all times.
Opening hours
- Monday and Tuesday - closed
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 8am to 2pm
- Saturday and Sunday - 8am to 4pm
- Closed on public holidays
Important information about the CRC
- Only 20kg or 20L of items can be dropped off per car per day for all items.
- E-waste has a strict limit of 20kg drop-off per car per day. Motor oil (including cooking oil) has a strict limit of 20L drop-off per car per day. Excessive/commercial quantities will not be accepted.
- Weekends are busy, so please ensure items are pre-sorted and ready for drop-off. Strict drop-off time applies to ensure there is flow of traffic.
- Unsorted items will not be accepted and turned away and you will be requested to re-enter after sorting. There is no sorting inside the CRC. Items not accepted are to be kept in the vehicle.
- Extended delays and wait times apply in peak periods and on truck loading days.
Before visiting the CRC
- Separate your items, including oil and water-based paints
- Remove items from their packaging, for example e-waste, CDs, DVDs, tapes and x-ray films
Batteries
- Tape the battery terminals.
- Keep batteries separated from metal objects.
- Store batteries in a cool, dry place until drop-off.
- If possible, keep battery brand and chemistry details visible.
Safety tips
When entering the CRC, lower your window, only enter once the boom gate is lifted (one car at a time) and follow staff members’ instructions on where to park. Turn off your engine before unloading.
Avoid placing items on the floor. Wearing gloves while handling items is recommended.
Quantities
With more residents dropping off problem waste each year, and limited storage space at the CRC, there are limits on the maximum quantity of waste dropped off per visit. Household waste is limited to 20 litres or 20 kilograms per customer per drop off.
Partners
North Sydney, Willoughby, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Mosman and Ryde Councils are pleased to have joined together with assistance from the NSW EPA to reduce and manage Household Problem Waste by establishing the Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre (CRC).
Kindness Matters
- Please treat our staff with respect and courtesy. Our team are dedicated to assisting you with your query.
- Abusive behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated.
- We are commited to maintaining a safe and respectful environment.
- If you have any concerns, please communicate them calmly, and we will do our best to address them promptly.
Accepted items
Please note not all accepted items are listed. Certain items may not be accepted for reasons including quantity limits, hazardous materials, commercial waste and licensing restrictions.
- water and oil-based paint. Maximum limit of 20 litres of paint in containers no larger than 20 litres each (eg. 2 x 10-litre cans OR 1 x 20-litre can OR 5 x 4-litre cans) per customer per drop-off per day.
- motor oils and others (including cooking oil). Strict maximum limit of 20 litres of oil in containers no larger than 20 litres each (eg. 2 x 10-litre cans OR 1 x 20-litre can OR 5 x 4-litre cans) per customer per drop-off per day.
- gas bottles, aerosols, and fire extinguishers.
- fluorescent, halogen, LED globes and tubes.
- smoke detectors/ alarms.
- printer cartridges. Only these brands: Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, HP, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Lexmark, Roland, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba.
- X-ray films (removed from envelope).
Recycling Batteries Responsibly
Batteries should never go in household garbage or recycling bins. They can spark fires in trucks and waste facilities, and some contain hazardous materials that can harm the environment. This FAQ sheet explains how to prepare, store and recycle batteries safely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why can’t I put batteries in my household bins?
Batteries can be damaged during collection and processing, which may cause sparks and fires. They may also contain materials such as lithium, cadmium, nickel and lead that should be recovered safely rather than sent to landfill.
Which batteries can usually go to a battery drop-off point?
Small loose household batteries are commonly accepted, including AA, AAA, C, D, button batteries, 6V and 9V batteries, and rechargeable batteries that can be easily removed from products such as power tools. In many cases, loose household batteries under 5 kg can be taken to a B-cycle drop-off point.
How should I prepare batteries before recycling?
Tape the terminals with clear, non-conductive sticky tape to reduce the risk of short-circuiting and fire. Do not place loose batteries in paper bags. If possible, keep battery brand and chemistry details visible.
How should I store used batteries at home until I can drop them off?
Store taped batteries in a ventilated, non-metal container such as a glass container, in a cool dry place away from heat and out of reach of children. Button batteries should be kept especially secure because they can be dangerous if swallowed.
What about larger batteries?
Larger removable household batteries, such as some e-bike, e-scooter, vacuum cleaner or large power tool batteries, should go to the Community Recycling Centre or a Household Chemical CleanOut event instead of a standard battery drop-off point.
What are embedded batteries?
Embedded batteries are built into a product and cannot be easily removed. Examples include some electric toothbrushes, speakers, smart watches, toys, power banks and vapes. These items should not go in household bins and should go to the Community Recycling Centre.
Where can I take batteries for recycling?
Many supermarkets, hardware stores and electronics retailers offer battery drop-off points through B-cycle or similar programs. The Northern Sydney Community Recycling Centre at 8 Waltham Street, Artarmon accepts batteries. Alternatively, North Sydney residents can book a collection by ReSmart.
What happens to batteries after recycling?
Recyclers recover valuable materials such as metals and plastics for reuse in new products, including new batteries and other manufacturing uses. Recycling helps reduce landfill, lower fire risk and keep useful resources in circulation.
Quick reminder
Never place batteries in household garbage or recycling bins. Tape the terminals, store them safely, and take them to an approved drop-off point.
Accepted Batteries
- Household batteries, including rechargeable batteries.
- Lead acid batteries (e.g. car and motorbike batteries).
- Larger removable household batteries such as e-bike, e-scooter, vacuum cleaner and power tool batteries.
- Embedded batteries (trial phase until September 2026), which are built into products and cannot easily be removed.
Battery-Powered Devices
Please remove batteries from battery-operated devices wherever possible before bringing them to the CRC.
If a battery is built into an electronic device (an embedded battery) and cannot be safely removed, leave the battery in the device and bring the entire item to the CRC.
Examples of items with embedded batteries include:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Power banks
- Rechargeable electronic devices
- Other battery-powered devices with non-removable batteries
Accepted E-Waste Items
North Sydney Council's Community Recycling Centre (CRC) accepts a range of electronic waste (e-waste) for recycling. E-waste includes electrical and electronic items that are no longer wanted or working. The following items are accepted at the CRC:
Televisions and Entertainment Equipment
- Flat-screen televisions (up to 100 inches)
- Tube and vintage televisions
- VHS, DVD and CD players
- Set-top boxes and streaming devices
Computers and IT Equipment
- Computers and desktop towers
- Laptops and tablets
- Monitors
- Keyboards and mice
- Speakers
- Scanners
- Printers (please remove ink and toner cartridges)
- USB drives
- Hard drives
- Floppy disks
- Motherboards
Please erase all personal data from storage devices before recycling.
IT and Electronic Accessories
- Modems and routers
- Circuit boards
- Power cords and cables
- Chargers and adapters
- Cameras and projectors
- Gaming accessories
- Headsets and headphones
- Stereo, hi-fi and home theatre systems
- Bluetooth devices
- Mobile phones and telephones
- CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and discs
Please remove all plastic packaging from CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes before disposal.
Small Household Electrical Appliances
- Microwaves
- Toasters
- Sandwich presses and sandwich makers
- Rice cookers and slow cookers
- Food processors
- Electric kettles
- Irons
- Steam cleaners
- Air fryers
- Electric juicers
- Electric frying pans
- Air purifiers
- Stand fans
- Column, tower and oil heaters
- Vacuum cleaners
Oil heaters are accepted and do not need to be drained before drop-off.
Not accepted items
Not accepted items
- household chemicals and cleaners, acids and alkalis, motor fuels, garden and hobby chemicals, poisons and solvents (check the Environment Protection Authority's Chemical CleanOut events)
- white goods (eg. fridge, washing machine, cloth dryer, air conditioner, water filter, rangehood, cooktops etc)
- distress beacons (eg. EPIRBS, PLB and ELT) and marine flares
- metal, pool pump including robotic pool cleaner/vacuum/accessories and building/renovation materials (eg. bricks, tiles, gyprock etc)
- soft plastic, plastic packaging and hard plastic (eg. buckets, containers, toys etc)
- household furniture (eg. sofa, cabinet, table, glass, mirror etc)
- cardboard, paper, polystyrene, cans/bottles
- general household rubbish and car parts (eg. seat, tyre etc) and green garden waste
- medical waste (eg, syringes, needles, scalpel/razor blade, clinical equipment etc)
- wearable textiles, including good quality clothing, shoes, manchester, and accessories such as handbags, belts, scarves and hats
- solar panels and solar accessories
Site safety plan
To ensure the safety of staff, residents and members of the community, be aware of the site safety in place:
- do not visit the CRC if you have cough or flu symptoms (such as fever, sore throat or runny nose) as you may put other users at risk
- all CRC customers are to remain in their vehicles until directed to enter the drop-off area by a staff member
- only enter when the boom gate is lifted for your car by a staff member. Drive in slowly as cars may be queued in the driveway
- all CRC customers are required to self-unload their items without any assistance from staff. If required, customers should bring someone along to assist
- all CRC customers must maintain physical distancing when unloading and depositing items in the respective cages.