Located at the Awaba Waste Management Facility, the centre is open seven days a week and allows residents to freely dispose of waste items such as gas bottles, batteries, motor oils and paint.

Environment Minister Robyn Parker said Lake Macquarie City Council were setting an example for other councils to follow with the centre, which was funded by a $250,000 grant from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

"This is about caring for our land and making sure we leave the smallest footprint possible," she said.

The Awaba Community Recycling Centre would reduce landfill and illegal dumping and help to keep Lake Macquarie's "pristine" environment healthy, Ms Parker said.

Lake Macquarie mayor Jodie Harrison said the recycling facility would assist with the council's target of a 70 per cent reduction in waste to landfill over 10 years.

"Lake Macquarie residents have always shown strong support for smarter ways to manage waste, and I'm sure the Community Recycling Centre will be no exception," she said.

"It will help us produce as little landfill as possible and that the landfill we do produce is as clean as possible."

EPA senior project officer Glen Sheffer said all items disposed of at the community recycling centre have the potential to be reused.

Motor oils can be turned back into lubricant, fire extinguishers are depressurised and used as scrap metal, while the residual gas from gas bottles, along with the bottle, are reused if the gas bottle is undamaged.

Back again

Items that can be recycled at the Awaba Community Recycling Centre include:

■ Paint

 ■ Household and car batteries

 ■ Gas bottles

 ■ Fire extinguishers

 ■ Fluoro globes and tubes

 ■ Motor and other oils

 ■ Smoke detectors

 ■ Polystyrene