P
Paint
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle via Paintback.
Paint tins (containing dried paint)
Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre.
Pallets
- Reuse by returning high-quality pallets to the producer (often for a cash refund)
- Reuse by turning into garden furniture or planter boxes
- Dispose of at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre.
Paper (clean/dry, newspapers, office paper, paper bags, post it notes)
- Reuse the blank side of office paper to create a notebook
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre
- Recycle by shredding and adding to your compost bin.
Paper (wet/oily, no chemicals)
Note: If the paper is contaminated with chemicals or cleaning products, dispose of it in your household waste bin.
Paper (shredded)
- Recycle by adding to your compost bin
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Paper bags (no plastic or twine)
- Reuse the bag to carry items
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre
- Recycle by shredding and adding to your compost bin.
Paper plates (unwaxed)
- Recycle clean paper plates in your recycling bin
- Recycle food soiled paper plates in your FOGO bin.
Paper plates (waxed)
Dispose of waxed paper plates (both clean and dirty) in your household waste bin.
Paper towels, napkins, serviettes (no chemicals)
- Avoid waste by using reusable cloth napkins
- Recycle by tearing into small pieces and adding to your home compost bin
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Note: If the paper towel is contaminated with chemicals or cleaning products, dispose of it in your household waste bin.
Pasta and rice products
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin or green cone solar composter
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Pencils and shavings
Dispose of in your household waste bin.
Pens and markers
- Recycle via Kew East Community Recycling on Facebook, a local community group that accepts difficult-to-recycle materials.
- Recycle at any participating Officeworks store.
- Dispose of in your household waste bin.
Pet food
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin or green cone solar composter
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Pet poo
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin, pet poo composter or green cone solar composter
- Dispose of soiled kitty litter in your household waste bin bagged or wrapped in old newspaper.
Note: this cannot go in your FOGO bin.
Petrol
Petrol is considered a hazardous substance/household chemical.
See 'Chemicals (Household)' on our Recycling and waste guide C page.
It is illegal to put flammable items in any household or street bins. Flammable chemicals are toxic and can explode. They can cause major fires in our collection trucks and at our waste processing facilities. Please only recycle household chemicals using the above method.
Pharmaceutical machines (e.g. blood pressure monitors)
- Reuse by donating to your local charity or op-shop
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at one of our local e-waste collection banks.
Pharmaceuticals (old)
Dispose of them safely by returning to your local pharmacy via the Return Unwanted Medicines (RUM) scheme.
Note: do not flush down the toilet or put in your waste bin.
Phone books (remove covers and add separately)
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre.
Photocopiers
- Reuse by donating to your local charity or op-shop
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre (fees apply)
- Recycle by booking a hard waste collection.
Photographs
Dispose of in your household waste bin.
Photograph negatives
Recycle in the x-ray bin at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre.
Photographic slides (with cardboard edges)
Recycle in the x-ray bin at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre.
Pillows
- Reuse clean items by donating to your local charity or op-shop
- Dispose of damaged items in your household waste bin.
Piano
- Reuse by donating to Pianos Recycled (fees may apply)
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree
Pizza boxes (empty – a little grease and crumbs are okay)
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre
- Recycle by tearing into small pieces and add to your home compost bin.
Plant pots (plastic) (soil and plant free)
- Reuse to grow seeds or re-pot new plants
- Reuse by donating to community gardens or nurseries
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre.
Plant pots (terracotta) (soil and plant free)
- Reuse by donating to community gardens or nurseries
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree.
- Reuse clean items by donating to your local charity or op-shop
- Dispose of damaged items in your household waste bin.
Plasterboard
Dispose of at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre (fees apply).
Plastic bags
- Avoid waste by always taking reusable bags with you and declining bags
- Reuse for as long as possible
- We are temporarily accepting soft plastics for recycling from Boroondara residents at 2 collection points. To find out more, visit our Temporary soft plastic recycling service page.
Plastic bottles (empty and squashed, leave lids on)
- Avoid waste by using a reusable bottle
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre.
Note: only plastic bottles and hard plastic containers are accepted in the recycling bin.
Plastic containers/tub (rigid, e.g. take away containers, yoghurt pots)
- Reuse to store food or craft supplies
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree.
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre.
Note: only plastic bottles and hard plastic containers are accepted in the recycling bin.
Plastic cosmetic tubes (empty, leave lids and pumps on)
- Recycle through Priceline
- Dispose in your household waste bin.
Plastic wrappers
- Avoid waste by avoiding excessively packaged products
- We are temporarily accepting soft plastics for recycling from Boroondara residents at 2 collection points. To find out more, visit our Temporary soft plastic recycling service page.
Plate scrapings
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin or green cone solar composter
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Polystyrene/styrofoam (white, solid only)
- Avoid by taking your own reusable cup or container
- Avoid by avoiding excessively packaged products
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre (residents or local businesses only).
Polystyrene bean bag balls
- Bag and tie up securely, then dispose of in your household waste bin. Bagging ensures the balls don't get stuck when the collections truck is emptied.
- Dispose of at the Boroondara Recycling & Waste Centre.
Note: Polystyrene cannot go in your recycling bin or be disposed of via hard waste.
Post bags (all types)
- Reuse for sending parcels in the future
- We are temporarily accepting soft plastics for recycling from Boroondara residents at 2 collection points. To find out more, visit our Temporary soft plastic recycling service page.
Post it notes
- Reuse the blank side
- Recycle in your recycling bin (yellow bin)
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre
- Recycle by shredding and adding to your compost bin.
Pots and pans – including non-stick variety (metal)
- Reuse for plants, pet bowls or donate to your local charity or op-shop
- Recycle at Tefal
- Recycle at Kitchen Warehouse
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre (fees apply)
- Dispose of in your household waste bin.
Poultry (raw or cooked meat and bones)
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin or green cone solar composter
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Power boards
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree.
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at one of our local e-waste collection banks.
Prams and strollers
- Donate to your local charity or op shop if in good usable condition
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree.
- Dispose of at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Cente
- Dispose of by booking a hard waste collection.
Prawn heads and shells
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin or green cone solar composter
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Printer cartridges
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle through the Cartridges 4 planet Ark program
- Recycle at any participating Officeworks store.
Printers and scanners
- Reuse by donating to your local charity or op-shop
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree.
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle by booking a hard waste collection.
Processed foods
- Recycle in your Bokashi bin or green cone solar composter
- Recycle in your FOGO bin.
Prunings and cuttings
- Recycle by adding to your compost bin
- Recycle in your FOGO bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre (fees apply).
Puffed corn packaging balls (household quantities only)
Pumps – loose (plastic pump pack)
Dispose of in your household waste bin.
Pumps still on plastic bottle (plastic pump pack)
- Recycle in your recycling bin
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle at the Kew Depot Recycling Drop-off Centre
Note: loose pumps must be disposed on in your household waste bin.
Pumps (mechanical)
- Reuse by donating to your local charity or op-shop
- Give it another life by posting on Boroondara Hard Rubbish Rehome Facebook group, Facebook Marketplace, Ziilch or Gumtree.
- Recycle at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre
- Recycle by booking a hard waste collection.
PVC and P.E. pipe
- Recycle at Nationwide Connect Recycling (Epping)
- Dispose of at the Boroondara Recycling and Waste Centre (fees apply)
Pyrex
- Reuse as pots for plants
- Donate to your local charity or op shop (see our Op shops in Boroondara page)
- Dispose of in your household waste bin.