Straws (plastic)
Can I put this in my recycling bin?
Put plastic straws in your rubbish bin.
Update: If you or someone in your household has coronavirus (COVID-19), put the item in a sealed plastic or paper bag and place in your rubbish bin. If other recyclable items have mixed with affected item, they should also be placed in the rubbish bin.
Why can’t plastic straws go in my recycling bin?
Unlike a lot of hard plastics which can go into your recycling bin at home, plastic straws cannot be recycled. Yes, straws are a hard plastic even though they can bend.
As they travel down the conveyor belt at a recycling facility, small items like straws fall through the cracks of the machinery. They end up either in landfill for years or pollute our oceans and waterways, harming marine life.
What can I use instead of a plastic straw?
There are also many alternatives to using a plastic straw such as metal, bamboo and glass straws.
For some people, straws are a necessity. But if you don't need one, simply say "no straw, please" when you order a drink.
Waste and recycling during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Household waste and recycling collections will continue as normal.
In metro Melbourne, council waste and recycling facilities are not open to the public. These facilities include collection, treatment, disposal and transfer stations. They will remain open for commercial contractors only.
In regional Victoria, facilities are open. Visitors must follow all directions and instructions for maintaining a COVIDSafe environment.
If you have unwanted items at home, hold onto them until these facilities re-open. For other options, check the waste and recycling advice for your local council area.
For more information on the roadmap across Victoria please refer to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Want to recycle something else?
Search for another item to find out if it can go in your home recycling bin or if it needs to be dropped off somewhere else.