For Northern Beaches locals, the Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre, Ingleside, is more than just a place to drop off rubbish.
Since opening as a landfill in 1974, it has grown into a community-focused hub where sustainability, recycling, and resource recovery come together. The centre now demonstrates how everyday waste can be transformed into valuable materials while providing opportunities for residents to learn, participate, and explore hands-on environmental initiatives.
From Landfill to Recycling Leader
Originally, Kimbriki functioned purely as a landfill, accepting waste from the surrounding region. Over time, the focus shifted toward recycling and resource recovery, with programs introduced for metals, vegetation, and timber. Today, the centre diverts more than 80 percent of incoming materials from landfill. Recyclable waste is transformed into products like soil, mulch, aggregates, and engineered timber, showing how thoughtful management can extend the life of a landfill and support environmental sustainability.
Turning Waste into Community Resources
Visitors to Kimbriki quickly see the centre’s innovative approach in action. Waste is sorted into categories such as garden material, concrete, metals, and recyclables. Items suitable for reuse are directed to the Buy Back Centre, where salvaged furniture, timber, and building materials are made available to the community. Nearby, The HUB supports volunteer-run initiatives, including Bikes4Life, the Peninsula Toy Repair Group, and Boomerang Bags Avalon, all giving discarded items a second life while fostering local engagement.
Learning, Workshops, and Eco Experiences
The centre is also a hub for sustainability education. The Eco House & Garden offers self-guided discovery trails and workshops on composting, worm farming, and sustainable living. Annual Open Days and special collection events allow families and schools to explore the site, learn practical environmental skills, and participate in hands-on activities. Free drop-off services for polystyrene, batteries, and other items make responsible recycling easy for residents.
A Local Resource with a Future
Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre, Ingleside, continues to play a key role for Northern Beaches community. Through innovative recycling, volunteer programs, and educational workshops, it demonstrates that waste can be a resource rather than a problem. Whether attending a workshop, browsing the Buy Back Centre, or volunteering at The HUB, locals can engage directly in sustainability efforts while enjoying a unique community space designed to inspire and educate.
Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre
📍 1 Kimbriki Rd, Ingleside NSW
🕒 Hours:
KIMBRIKI SITE Open 7 Days | 7.00 am – 5.00 pm Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
BUY BACK CENTRE (open to the public) Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday | 8.00 am – 4.30 pm Closed on Tuesday and Thursday Closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday
ECO HOUSE AND GARDEN Open Monday to Sunday | 7.00 am – 5.00 pm * Not staffed at all times.
📞 (02) 9486 3512
Story by Evie Scully
