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6 Accepted Waste Categories

What Can Go In a Hooklift Bin?

Adelaide hooklift bins accept general household waste, renovation debris, concrete, green waste, and commercial waste. Six categories explained — with prohibited items, surcharges, and the SA EPA rules that apply.

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HouseholdGreen & GardenConcrete & BrickSoil & FillConstructionCommercial✕ Prohibited Items$ Surcharges

Accepted Waste Types

Which size to use, weight considerations, and exactly what's accepted — for each waste category.

General Household Waste

  • Furniture (sofas, beds, tables, chairs)
  • Whitegoods (fridges, washing machines, dishwashers)
  • Carpets and underlay
  • Clothing and textiles
  • Toys and plastic items
  • Cardboard and paper
  • Timber (non-treated, non-painted)
  • Metal items and scrap
  • General rubbish bags
Bin recommendationAny size bin. Use a 9m³ or 12m³ for a full room, 20m³+ for a full house clear-out.
Weight noteGeneral household waste is light — you can typically fill a bin to the rim without hitting weight limits.

Green & Garden Waste

  • Grass clippings and lawn cuttings
  • Tree branches and limbs
  • Garden prunings and shrubs
  • Leaves and mulch
  • Turf and sod (no excessive soil)
  • Weeds and garden plants
  • Small logs (under 300mm diameter)
  • Bamboo and palms
Bin recommendationAny size. Keep it separated from general waste for better disposal rates. Soil and dirt require a separate bin.
Weight noteGreen waste can be surprisingly heavy when wet. Soil attached to roots adds significant weight — shake roots clean before disposal.

Concrete, Brick & Masonry

  • Concrete slabs and rubble
  • Bricks and pavers
  • Tiles (floor and wall)
  • Mortar and render
  • Asphalt and bitumen
  • Sandstone and natural stone
  • Plaster (non-painted)
  • Cinder blocks and besser blocks
Bin recommendationUse a dedicated heavy waste bin. Do NOT mix with general waste — it raises disposal costs. Our 9m³ heavy waste bin is most cost-effective for pure concrete.
Weight noteConcrete weighs ~2.4 tonnes per cubic metre. A 9m³ bin hits its 3-tonne weight limit at just 1.25 cubic metres of solid concrete. Always book the correct heavy waste bin type.

Soil & Fill

  • Clean fill soil
  • Clay and subsoil
  • Sand and gravel
  • Dirt and earth
  • Rocks and boulders (call for size limits)
Bin recommendationRequires a dedicated clean fill bin — cannot be mixed with general waste. Email to confirm pricing as soil disposal rates vary by volume.
Weight noteSoil weighs ~1.6 tonnes per cubic metre. Even a 9m³ bin hits its weight limit at under 2 cubic metres of soil. Soil jobs are always quoted on weight, not volume.

Construction & Renovation Waste

  • Plasterboard and gyprock
  • Timber framing and flooring
  • Insulation (non-asbestos)
  • Roof tiles and sheeting
  • Metal framing and steel
  • Doors, windows and frames
  • Electrical wire (stripped)
  • Pipe and plumbing materials
  • Vinyl flooring
Bin recommendationMixed renovation waste: use 15m³ or 20m³. Separating heavy items (concrete, tiles) from light items (timber, plaster) gives better value from your weight allowance.
Weight noteMixed renovation waste is medium-weight. A 15m³ bin typically fits a full kitchen/bathroom renovation without hitting limits if heavy waste is separated.

Commercial & Industrial Waste

  • Office fit-out debris
  • Retail strip-out materials
  • Warehouse clear-out items
  • Machinery packaging and crates
  • Commercial shelving and racking
  • Restaurant and food service equipment
  • Signage and display materials
Bin recommendationUse 20m³, 30m³, or 40m³ for commercial volumes. Weekly swap-outs available for ongoing sites.
Weight noteCommercial waste is typically light — shelving, packaging, fixtures. Weight limits rarely a concern unless heavy materials are included.

Prohibited Items

These items cannot go in any hooklift bin. SA EPA regulations apply. A bin containing prohibited items may be rejected — with full removal fees payable.

Asbestos (any form)

SA EPA strictly regulated hazardous material. Requires licensed asbestos removal contractors and specialist disposal. Heavy fines apply.

Alternative: Contact an SA-licensed asbestos removal company.
Liquid waste (any type)

Cannot be transported or disposed of in standard bins. Includes liquid paint, chemicals, oil, and fuels.

Alternative: Use a licensed liquid waste disposal service or your local council drop-off.
Hazardous chemicals

Poisons, pesticides, solvents, acids, alkalis — all require specialist hazardous waste handling.

Alternative: SA EPA ChemClear program or council hazardous waste drop-off days.
Gas bottles (LPG/compressed gas)

Explosion risk during compaction and transport.

Alternative: Most hardware stores and service stations accept empty gas bottle exchange.
Tyres

SA EPA banned from landfill — must go to licensed tyre recyclers.

Alternative: Tyres can be taken to licensed tyre retailers or council drop-off centres.
Medical and clinical waste

Regulated biohazardous material requiring specialist collection.

Alternative: Contact SA Health or a licensed medical waste contractor.
Batteries (lead-acid car batteries)

Heavy metal contamination risk.

Alternative: Battery World and many auto shops accept lead-acid batteries for recycling.
E-waste (TVs, computers, monitors)

SA EPA mandated — e-waste cannot go to landfill in South Australia.

Alternative: Free e-waste drop-off at many councils and Officeworks stores across Adelaide.

Surcharge Items

These items can go in the bin but attract an additional fee at disposal. All surcharges are disclosed upfront — no surprises at collection.

ItemSurchargeWhy
Inner spring mattress$100 per mattressComplex springs require hand-sorting at disposal facility
Standard mattress (no springs)$50 per itemBulky item requiring special handling
Car tyres$40 per tyreSeparate licensed disposal stream
Truck/4WD tyres$90 per tyreSize premium on recycling program
Overweight (per tonne over limit)$340/tonneAdditional disposal and transport costs
Paint (dried/hardened)$20 per tinPaint waste classification and disposal
Fridges/air conditioners$40 per unitRefrigerant gas requires licensed degassing
Mixed prohibited itemsFull bin rejection + removal fee — tipped out on siteBin cannot be processed if prohibited items detected
Overweight policy: We weigh every bin at our licensed disposal facility. If your bin exceeds the stated weight limit, the overweight rate of $340 per tonne (or part thereof) applies and will be invoiced separately after disposal. We aim to notify you before processing wherever possible. Separating heavy materials (concrete, soil) into dedicated bins is the best way to avoid overweight charges.

Separate to Save Money

Mixing heavy waste (concrete, soil, bricks) with general waste dramatically reduces how much volume you can use before hitting weight limits. The best-value approach is always to separate heavy materials into a dedicated heavy waste bin.

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