Skip to content

About HomeCycle

HomeCycle is a free service which picks up tricky to recycle items and reusable household goods from your door.

HomeCycle is a free and easy collection service for Inner West residents, offering a convenient way to recycle and repurpose items that don’t belong in household bins. It is easy to book from the comfort of your home and diverts valuable materials from landfill.

Book your HomeCycle pickup

Find out what items are accepted

What you need to do

Step 1

Make a Booking

Households in the Inner West Local Government Area can book a pickup online.

You must have the equivalent of at least 2 full bags of items to qualify for a pickup. Check this list of accepted items to find out what can be picked up

Pickups are limited to three bookings per household, per year, however the wait time between bookings will be dependent on demand.

Step 2

Prepare your items for pickup

Where possible, box or bag items separately, as they go to different places (see how to pack your items)

Leave the items outside in a safe and accessible spot near your front door by 7:30am on your pickup day.

Write a note “HomeCycle” and attach it to the bags so your neighbours know it’s being picked up.

Please ensure no other items are left by your front door so that they aren’t picked up by mistake.

Step 3

Your items are picked up

Items will be picked up on your booked pickup day. You will receive a SMS notification once the items are picked up.

Reusable bags will be left behind for you to use next time. Thin plastic bags will be taken with your items in them and recycled. Thicker plastic bags will be taken and repurposed. Cardboard boxes will be recycled or repurposed.

Book your HomeCycle pickup

Find out what items are accepted.
If you’re unsure if an item is accepted,
please email [email protected]

What we pickup

The following items are accepted:

• Small household electronics and e-waste

Small appliances with a plug, power cord or battery (e.g. kettle, toaster, iron, blender, alarm clock, radio, hairdryer, straightener, electric toothbrushes), small televisions (suitable for a one person lift, under 42”), computers and peripherals (e.g. computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, mouse, keyboards, game consoles, speakers).

Batteries should be removed and placed in a zip lock bag for safety.
Ensure button butteries and 9-volt batteries are stored separately, as they can ignite when they come into contact with each other and cause a fire.

• Small batteries

Rechargeable, non-rechargeable, small handheld batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V), lantern, watch and button batteries. Standard size handheld rechargeable batteries up to 5kg.

Batteries should be placed in a zip lock bag together for safety.

• Soft plastics

Soft plastics such as shopping bags, wrappers, confectionary packets, bread bags, frozen food bags, squeezy pouches, rice/pasta bags, zip lock bags, cling wraps, cereal box liners, chip packets, bubble wrap and fresh produce bags (excluding blister packs, hard plastic, biscuit tray liners and fresh fruit containers.

• Mobile phones

Phones, phone batteries and phone accessories (mobile and landline phones, cords, chargers and headphones).

• Printer Cartridges

Domestic printer cartridges. Please place cartridge inside replacement foil bag or a soft plastic bag.

• Clothing, textiles and fashion accessories

Wearable clothing (new and used), non-wearable clothing (worn, stained and torn), footwear and fashion accessories including swimwear, hats, gloves, handbags, belts and jewellery. Please no wet items or underwear and socks.

• Toys

Good quality toys, in good usable condition (batteries removed).
All items should be able to be handled and lifted by one person.

• Towels and bed linen

Towels, bedlinen and Manchester, excluding pillows, cushions, electric blankets and doonas. Please no wet items.

• Aluminium coffee pods

Put coffee pods in a separate soft plastic bag and tie it up to stop leaks.

• X-ray films

X-ray, MRI and CT scans / films. Please remove paper envelopes and any personal details from individual x-rays/MRIs/CT scans/films.

• Blister packs

The following items are not accepted:

• Furniture, whitegoods and bulky items

Furniture, whitegoods, mattresses, mirrors, large electrical items (e.g. televisions over 42”, microwaves), outdoor settings, BBQ equipment, large musical instruments and bikes (consider donating useable items to charity or selling them online, or book a Council bulky household cleanup to dispose of large items).

• Baby equipment

Prams/strollers, cots, car seats, walkers, highchairs (baby clothing accepted).

• Hazardous waste, solvents, chemicals and cleaning products

Poisons, pesticides, household cleaners, pool chemicals, cooking oil. Please visit the NSW EPA website for details of Chemical Cleanout events to safely dispose of these items.

• Paint tins over 2L, motor oil, gas bottles, large batteries

• Pillows, cushions, doonas, rugs, carpets, air mattresses and electric blankets

• Broken homewares and toys

• Underwear and socks

• Books, DVDs, CDs & videotapes

• Commercial quantities of cardboard

• Large sporting goods and gym equipment

• Polystyrene

• Fire extinguishers

• Medicines, cosmetics and cosmetic packaging

• Hard plastic items

• Building materials or car parts

• Items that can go in your recycling bins at home

Some of these items can be taken to the Community Recycling Centre (CRC). Please see Council’s website for details. Bottles, plastic containers, glass, small cardboard, foil and cans can go in your recycling bin. To find out how to recycle or dispose of other items visit A-Z of Recycling.

Download the brochure to find out what items are accepted.
If you’re unsure if an item is accepted, please email [email protected]