Sort your load

• Car batteries
• Cardboard and paper
• Fluorescent tubes and lights
• Glass bottles and jars
• Good condition building materials - the reusable condition of items is determined at the time of entry by the transfer station attendants. Fees may apply for items that do not meet condition criteria.
• Fire extinguishers
• Household batteries inc. power tools and mobile phones (5 kg limit)
• Household chemicals (20 L/kg or less)
• Mobile phones
• Oils - motor and cooking (20 L limit)
• Paint and solvents (architectural and decorative) Babinda Transfer Station does not accept this material
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Electrical and audio cables
• Printer cartridges
• Reusable household items (furniture, toys, knick-knacks etc)
• Reuseable clothing and footwear
• Steel and aluminium cans
• Televisions, desktop and laptop computers, game consoles, computer parts and peripherals

E-Waste Recycling: if it’s got a plug, battery or cord and is unwanted, it’s e-waste

From old phones, computers and household appliances to power tools and toys. e-waste is full of valuable resources we can reuse, as well as some internal materials which can harm the environment.

Don’t place these items in your waste (or recycling) bins, residents are reminded that these can be taken to Council's transfer stations for reuse, recycling and possibly resale.

View Council’s accepted items at transfer stations guide for further information.

Many items can be dropped off for free at Council's transfer stations. View the free drop-off page for further information.

Charges apply

• General waste - anything that can't be sorted, reused, recycled and goes to landfill
• Mattresses
• Medical Waste - sharps only (Portsmith and Smithfield Transfer Stations only)
• Polystyrene and soft plastics
• Treated timber

View Council's waste and recycling fees and charges ( PDF, 0.02 MB ) for further information.

Charges apply

• Green waste (grass clippings, weeds, shrub and yard clippings, wood chips, bark, palm fronds, trees and branches)

Make sure to take advantage of Council's four free waste drop-off offerings per year.

Portsmith, Smithfield, Gordonvale and Babinda transfer stations offer four free green waste offerings per year,

2026  Dates:

• February 14 - 22, 2026
• May 16 - 24,  2026
• August 15 - 23, 2026
• November 14 - 22, 2026

Note: this offer is for domestic cars, utilities and/or trailers and light trucks (vehicle weight to GVM 4.5 tonnes). Normal rates apply for the disposal of any other waste during this period, including green waste from garden maintenance contractors on behalf of residents.

View Council's  Fees and Charges Document for full green waste acceptance details. ( PDF, 0.02 MB )

• Scrap metal (ferrous and non-ferrous)
• Fridges and freezers (maximum two per visit)
• Whitegoods - washing machines, dryers
• Air conditioners

Many items can be dropped off for free at Council transfer stations. View the free drop-off page for further information.

Charges Apply

Please note:  Clean concrete waste (pure concrete with no other materials mixed in) is charged at a lower rate than loads containing other items such as bricks, tiles, steel, gyprock (plasterboard), or other contaminants.

Examples of items that make a load "Mixed Commercial" and will be charged at a higher rate. 

• Bricks
• Tiles
• Gyprock plasterboard
• Steel/rebar (if excessive or not minimal)
• Other construction debris

View Council's full waste and recycling fees and charges document for exact rates ( PDF, 0.02 MB ).

• Address: Lot 1 Dunne Road SMITHFIELD 4878
• Opening hours: 8:30am-5:15pm seven days. Closed Christmas Day and during annual Cairns Ironman event.

• Address: 35 - 51 Lyons Street PORTSMITH 4870
• Opening Hours: 8:30am-5:15pm seven days. Closed Christmas Day.

• Address: Lot 1 Bruce Highway GORDONVALE 4865
• Opening Hours: 8:30am-5:15pm seven days. Closed Christmas Day.

Address: Lot 2 Kruckow Road BABINDA 4861
Opening Hours: 8:30am-5:15pm seven days. Closed Christmas Day.