Can I Put Timber Wood into a Green Waste Bin?

After trimming hedges and cutting overgrown tree branches, what do I do with waste timber wood? Can I put it in a green waste bin or take it directly to a recycling centre? 

In Australia, you can’t just throw away timber waste in regular rubbish bins or directly to landfills or recycling sites. You must first sort it out and practise proper waste disposal according to your local council’s recycling regulations.

Timber wood is accepted in most recycling centres, with a few exceptions. This guide explains how to dispose of wood.

Understanding What Can Go into a Green Waste Bin

Why do we accumulate wood waste? Most of these materials come from construction, demolition, and renovation projects, while a large portion is still garden waste (tree cuttings, branches, clippings, etc.). Wood waste can also come from old furniture, cabinets, other household items, and woodworking industries (sawmill and pulp mill residue). But what goes in a green waste bin?

What Green Waste Bins Are Meant For

Australia has coloured bins for different types of waste. The most common one is the green bin. Green waste bins are only for organic materials such as food and garden waste. 

Typical Items Allowed in Green Waste Bins

Green waste bin rules are simple. The following should go inside green bins:

• Grass clippings
• Small garden prunings
• Twigs
• Small tree branches
• Leaves
• Loose bark
• Flowers and foliage
• Palm fonds
• Weeds, creepers, vines, and ivy
• Food waste

Do not throw the following in green waste bins:

• Large tree stumps
• Large tree branches
• Treated timber
• Animal waste
• Fibre-based items such as cardboard, paper, paper towels, tissues, and teabags

Why Timber Wood Generally Should Not Go in a Green Waste Bin

Understanding timber disposal in green bins is important in green waste management. Learning wood waste disposal options can help households manage their rubbish more efficiently.

Reasons Timber Isn’t Accepted in Green Bins

Timber (even untreated) is not accepted in green bins because of its weight and size. It would help if you sorted timber into branches (large and small), twigs, and loose bark before you dump them inside green waste bins.

Treated Wood vs Untreated Wood Disposal

Wood waste can be treated or untreated. Treated wood is wood from furniture, renovations, demolitions, and constructions, and it is usually covered with paint, varnish, and other chemicals that enhance the wood’s properties. This type of wood must be handled separately from untreated wood materials to avoid contamination of the environment.

Meanwhile, untreated wood has not received any chemical treatment and is in a natural or raw state. Wood from garden waste and shavings or debris from raw wood used in woodworking projects could be classified as untreated wood. To dispose of untreated wood, you must consider wood waste disposal options such as recycling, composting, donating, or handling it to a local recycling facility.

Proper Disposal Options for Timber and Wood Waste

Australia has strict rules regarding waste disposal. Learning about the correct timber and wood waste disposal helps support the country’s move toward a cleaner and greener environment.

Timber Recycling Programs

The Environment Protection Act 2017 and the Environment Protection Regulation 2021 state that all industrial waste, including wood timber waste, must be taken to a facility that accepts it. Waste of this type will undergo sorting, resource recovery, and proper disposal.

Timber waste must be classified correctly following the waste classification assessment protocol, where treated timber is a priority waste. Treated wood waste includes timber, wood, or other materials derived from wood, including sawdust or engineered wood, that have likely been chemically treated with a hazardous substance such as paint, varnish, preservatives, or fumigants.

Treated timber, except those with air-borne preservatives, is accepted at municipal waste landfills and must be categorised as industrial waste.

Using a Rubbish Removal Service for Timber Waste

Classifying wood waste could be challenging, especially for a large household or a massive home renovation or construction! It’s easy to lose track of treatment from untreated wood waste, which could lead to incorrect waste disposal. With the help of an eco-friendly, expert waste disposal company like All Gone Rubbish Removals, you can guarantee efficient segregation, hauling, and disposal.

Drop-Off Points for Large Timber Waste

Large timber waste should be taken to a licensed landfill site. Since your council won’t take this timber waste, you may coordinate with us to remove it from your property and properly dispose of it in specific drop-off sites.

Alternatives to Throwing Timber in the Bin

Sustainable timber disposal should be a priority for your home and business, especially when you produce large amounts of waste. Here are some timber recycling tips to consider:

Upcycling and Repurposing Timber

You can upcycle and repurpose timber into the following:

• Wooden planter boxes
• Floating shelves or bookshelves
• Reclaimed wooden table
• Outdoor wooden bench
• Swing made out of wooden pallets
• Garden or patio furniture
• Breakfast tray
• Wooden block toys
• Pet beds

Donating Usable Wood for Community Projects

In addition to upcycling and repurposing timber, you can donate usable wood pieces to community groups, schools, charities, etc. Call local groups and community centres to arrange pickup or drop-off.

Composting Small Untreated Wood Pieces (If Permissible)

You can compost untreated wood pieces and use these as mulch or nutrients for your garden plants and trees. Untreated wood can be ground or cut into very small pieces and added to compost or spread over soil to act as much.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can I put treated wood in my green waste bin?

No, you cannot put treated wood in your green bin. Treated lumber can contaminate organic waste, which is usually used as mulch and compost. Contaminated compost can damage soil and plants.

What happens if I put timber in the green waste bin?

You could contaminate the green waste bin when you dump timber. Also, you could be looking at possible fines from your city council.

Where can I dispose of timber waste safely?

You can take your timber waste to a recycling centre or call professional services for safe and efficient disposal.

Is untreated wood allowed in green waste bins?

Untreated wood waste is allowed in green waste but only when properly sorted. Green waste bins only allow the following:

• Small garden prunings
• Twigs
• Small tree branches
• Loose bark

How can All Gone Rubbish Removals help with wood disposal?

We make timber waste disposal simple and safe. We provide sustainable disposal if you need to remove timber waste from construction, demolition, renovation, woodworking, or old furniture. Call us before 2 p.m. to use our same-day rubbish removal services.

Conclusion 

Waste timber does not belong in green waste bins. To avoid dumping it in landfills, you should practise proper waste management and recycle, reuse, or compost (for untreated timber) these materials.

All Gone Rubbish Removals provides same-day rubbish removal services across Sydney, the Central Coast, Gosford, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast. Call us today for the best-priced rubbish removal service in your area!