How to Use the Territory Can Man Recycling Depot: Hours, Location & Drop-Off Tips

The bags of cans are taking over the shed, the bottles are piling up and you've decided it's time to cash them in. Before you load the car, a little preparation can make your trip to The Territory Can Man easier, from knowing when we're open to getting your containers ready for drop-off.

Our Darwin recycling centre in Winnellie is at 102 Winnellie Road, Winnellie NT 0820. We're open Monday to Friday, 8 am–3:30 pm, and Saturday, 8 am–noon, with Sunday closed. Bring eligible drink containers empty, clean, uncrushed and sorted, then follow our team's directions through the drive-through depot.

Whether you're clearing a few household bags or organising a club collection, preparation makes the visit easier. Here's how to plan the trip, pack your containers and decide whether a collection bin would suit you better.

Where to Find Our Depot

Use our full address, 102 Winnellie Road, when planning your route. You can open the map from our contact page before leaving home, then check the destination rather than relying on a broad suburb search.

If you're searching for recycling near me in Darwin, check that the result matches the service you need. Our Winnellie depot is a Container Deposit Scheme return point, where eligible beverage containers earn a refund. A search for general recycling may also bring up facilities handling different materials.

For a first visit with a trailer or unusually bulky load, contact us about access and unloading before setting off. Explaining what you're bringing gives our team a chance to advise on a suitable approach. Don't assume every recycling location has the same entry arrangements or accepts the same items.

Opening Hours And Visit Planning

Our published regular opening hours are:

• Monday to Friday: 8 am–3:30 pm
• Saturday: 8 am–noon
• Sunday: Closed



Saturday has a shorter service window, so leave enough time to arrive and have your load handled. For public holidays or an unusual collection, confirm arrangements before travelling rather than assuming regular hours apply.

There isn't a guaranteed quiet time or a fixed turnaround for every load. A car boot of sorted cans and a large mixed collection involve different amounts of handling. Arrive with time to spare, especially if recycling is one stop in a busy morning. Before leaving, check that you have the correct address, your containers are ready and the load is secure. That quick review is more useful than arriving early with bags that still need sorting.

What Containers Should You Bring?

Bring beverage containers eligible under the Northern Territory's Container Deposit Scheme, rather than treating a refund trip as a general rubbish drop-off. Each eligible container attracts a 10-cent refund. Containers must meet the scheme's requirements, including Territory purchase requirements.

The scheme expanded on 1 July 2026 to include beverage containers up to three litres, including wine, spirits and plain milk containers. That means older advice excluding those drink categories may no longer apply. Check current NT EPA guidance if you're unsure about a particular container.

Look for the refund marking, but don't automatically discard newly eligible containers without one. Transitional labelling arrangements mean some new container categories can still qualify without a printed refund message. Keep questionable items separate and ask our team rather than mixing them through the whole load.

We recommend keeping refundable drink containers separate from household recycling as you collect them. A food jar, cardboard box or detergent bottle doesn't become refundable simply because its material can be recycled. For our depot visit, focus on the drink containers you intend to return.

Prepare Your Load Before Leaving

Empty containers and sort them at home so your visit starts with a manageable load. Our depot asks for containers to be clean, separated by material, uncrushed and without lids. Containers that are unclean, contaminated or still have lids may not be accepted.

Use separate bags, tubs or other suitable carriers for different materials. Keep glass separate from cans and plastic bottles, and avoid burying cartons beneath a heavy layer of bottles. The aim is easy access without having to unpack everything just to reach one category.

Don't squash containers to squeeze in another bag. Leave them identifiable and keep rubbish out of the collection. Emptying leftover drinks before storage also makes transport less messy and avoids bringing unnecessary liquid to the depot.

For a hypothetical household example, imagine two bags of cans, a tub of glass bottles and a small carton collection. Packing those separately lets you present each material without sorting a mixed pile in the car park. It also makes the collection easier to carry and check at home.

Our guide to maximising your cash returns from recycling explores collection habits in more detail. For this visit, the useful rule is to finish the preparation before you arrive.

How Drive-Through Drop-Off Works

Our depot offers drive-through returns, with our team handling approved cans, cartons and bottles for cash. We tally eligible containers and pay the refund to the person presenting them. You don't need to guess a dollar value from the size of your bags.

Think of the visit in three stages:

1. Arrive ready. Bring your sorted load during opening hours and follow onsite signs and staff directions.
2. Present your containers. Wait for instructions about where to stop and unload. Mention any uncertain items before tipping them into a larger collection.
3. Complete your return. Allow the eligible containers to be tallied and clarify any questions about the refund before leaving.



If it's your first visit, say so. Asking where to put each material is easier than unloading into the wrong place and moving everything again. Keep bags and tubs accessible so you can respond to the team's directions.

Tipping Tips For Easier Unloading

Wait until our team tells you where to empty your containers. Drive-through access doesn't mean every load should be tipped out immediately or all at once. Controlled unloading keeps your sorted materials separate and gives you a chance to identify anything that shouldn't be included.

Choose loads you can handle comfortably rather than one oversized bag that's difficult to lift. Keep glass secure during travel and don't reach into a bag containing broken glass. If something has broken or leaked, tell the team before handling it.

Keep children clear of vehicle movements and unloading areas, and follow any onsite safety directions. A little patience while the vehicle ahead finishes is part of making a shared depot space work smoothly.

Collection Bins For Bulk Loads

A bin or cage may suit you better if containers build up regularly at a workplace, school, club or event. We supply collection bins and offer bulk collection options, so contact us to discuss delivery, return or pickup arrangements before choosing a setup.

Our recycling service also advertises pickup for recyclables in bulk bags. Confirm the required bag, materials, access and collection arrangements with us; don't assume an ordinary household bag is suitable. Ask about any applicable conditions or charges when making the enquiry.

For an event, decide who will keep general rubbish out of the collection and organise storage afterwards. A clearly labelled collection point can save volunteers from sorting a mixed waste pile later. Our community recycling service supports fundraising by tallying returned eligible containers and paying the organisation.

Make Your Next Visit Simple

The main preparation is straightforward: check the hours, use the full Winnellie address and bring empty, clean containers separated by material. For a bulk load, settle the handling and collection arrangements before filling bags or organising transport.

Ready to visit our Darwin recycling centre or arrange a bin for your home, business or community group? Contact The Territory Can Man for enquiries and we'll help you work out the appropriate drop-off or collection option.

Frequently Asked Questions