We all know that items like paper, glass, and plastic bottles can be recycled, but did you know that several other common household and workplace items can also be recycled? As Australia continues to make strides in waste management, it’s important to be aware of the many items that can be kept out of landfills through recycling.
Here’s a list of 10 everyday items you might not realise can be recycled, along with tips on how to recycle them in Australia.
1. Old Clothing and Textiles
Instead of tossing old clothes or worn textiles in the bin, consider recycling them. Charities such as Salvos Stores and Vinnies accept donations of wearable clothing, while other services specialise in transforming damaged textiles into new materials, like insulation or fabric.
Tip: Locate textile recycling bins in your area or donate worn clothes to charities. Retailers like H&M and Zara also offer recycling programs for used clothing.
2. Batteries
Batteries are classified as hazardous waste and should never be thrown in household bins. Fortunately, they are recyclable at specific collection points, helping recover valuable metals like lithium, nickel, and cadmium for reuse in manufacturing.
Tip: Drop off used batteries at Battery World, Officeworks, or your local council’s collection points.
3. Mobile Phones and Electronics (E-Waste)
Old mobile phones and electronic devices can be recycled too. E-waste contains valuable materials like gold, copper, and aluminium that can be recovered.
Tip: Drop your old phone off at participating retailers or recycle larger electronics through programs like The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) throughout Australia.
4. Toothbrushes and Toothpaste Tubes
Most people don’t realise that toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes can be recycled. Programs such as TerraCycle collect used oral care products and turn them into new materials.
Tip: Sign up for TerraCycle’s oral care recycling program, which offers free shipping for recycling used toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes.
5. Coffee Pods
Single-use coffee pods contribute significantly to waste, but they can be recycled. Companies like Nespresso offer recycling programs that separate the coffee grounds from the aluminium pods.
Tip: Check for coffee pod collection bins at participating retailers, or use Nespresso’s mail-back recycling service.
6. Cooking Oil
Pouring used cooking oil down the drain can damage pipes and harm the environment. Instead, cooking oil can be recycled into biodiesel or other useful products.
Tip: Contact your local council or our expert team for information on used cooking oil collection programs.
7. CDs, DVDs, and Cassette Tapes
Outdated media like CDs, DVDs, and cassette tapes can be recycled. Specialised recyclers can extract valuable plastics and metals for reuse, reducing the need for new raw materials.
Tip: Send your old discs to e-waste recycling programs such as TechCollect or MobileMuster.
8. Plastic Bottle Caps
While many know that plastic bottles can be recycled, the caps are often forgotten. These caps are made from a different type of plastic and need to be recycled separately to avoid contamination.
Tip: Collect plastic bottle caps and recycle them through programs like Lids4Kids, which repurposes them into new products.
9. Light Bulbs
Certain light bulbs, such as CFLs and LEDs, contain hazardous materials like mercury. These should not go in regular waste but can be safely recycled through specialised programs.
Tip: Drop off used light bulbs at participating Bunnings stores or your local council’s designated collection points.
10. Wine Corks
Love wine? You’ll be pleased to know that natural corks can be recycled into products like flooring, insulation, or crafts, while synthetic corks can be repurposed into plastic products.
Tip: Send natural corks to recycling programs like CorkClub, or check if your local council accepts corks for recycling.
By expanding your recycling efforts, you can help reduce waste and support Australia’s sustainability goals. Waste Buying Group is here to help you find the best recycling options and waste solutions to keep these items out of landfills. Let’s all do our part!