The suburbs we cover sit across five councils, and each runs its hard waste service differently. Council collections are worth using when they fit — they’re free, but they have volume limits, booking waits and a list of things they won’t take. Here’s a plain-English summary for each.
City of Tea Tree Gully
Hard waste: Two free at-call collections a year (hard waste or mattresses), booked through Solo, with up to 2 cubic metres per collection, no single item over 50kg or longer than 1.5m, and waits that can stretch to several weeks.
Won’t take: Green waste, building materials, e-waste, tyres, chemicals, gas bottles or paint.
Green waste: The council runs Enviro Care — free green waste drop-off days for residents at St Agnes Recreation Park on Smart Road — for leaves, clippings and branches up to 20cm thick (cars and trailers only, no contractors).
Check current rules with Tea Tree Gully Council City of Salisbury
Hard waste: Two free hard waste services a financial year through NAWMA — either a kerbside pick-up of up to 2 cubic metres, or a voucher for one 6x4 trailer load at a NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre (residents only, no contractors).
Won’t take: Green waste, building materials, glass, tyres, polystyrene or hazardous waste.
Green waste: Residents can book one free garden organics drop-off voucher in spring for a NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre; outside that, green waste is accepted at the centres for a fee.
Check current rules with Salisbury Council City of Playford
Hard waste: Two free hard waste services a financial year through NAWMA — an at-call kerbside collection of up to 2 cubic metres (often a 4–6 week wait), or a voucher for one 6x4 trailer load at a NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre.
Won’t take: Green waste, building materials, tyres or hazardous waste, and every item has to be liftable by two people.
Green waste: Large amounts of garden waste can be taken to a NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre, where fees apply.
Check current rules with Playford Council Town of Gawler
Hard waste: One free hard waste service a financial year through NAWMA — a kerbside collection of up to 2 cubic metres, or a code for one 6x4 trailer load at NAWMA Edinburgh North or Eco Waste Solutions in Willaston.
Won’t take: Green waste, building materials, tyres or hazardous waste.
Green waste: Large amounts of garden waste can be taken to a NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre, where fees apply.
Check current rules with Gawler Council City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Hard waste: Up to three hard waste services a calendar year booked through Cleanaway — kerbside collections of up to 2 cubic metres, or up to two trailer-load drop-off vouchers for the Beverley Recycling and Waste Centre.
Won’t take: Garden waste, bricks, concrete, tiles, tyres, gas bottles, asbestos or chemicals.
Green waste: Residents can book free green waste drop-offs at Integrated Waste Services in Wingfield (up to four a year, residents in person only).
Check current rules with Port Adelaide Enfield Council Council rules change, usually at the start of each financial year, so check the council link before you book. For household chemicals and paint: NAWMA’s Edinburgh North Resource Recovery Centre and the Campbelltown Works Depot on Newton Road both take household chemicals, gas bottles and liquid paint free under the Green Industries SA and Paintback schemes.