Resources around the globe are diminishing everyday. For future generations to enjoy the planet as we do, we need to be more mindful about what we throw into landfill. By utilising recycling programs we can help reduce what ends up in landfill and re-use the those materials. You as an individual CAN make a difference! Try encouraging your workplace, school, community to participate as well for an even bigger impact.
What’s even better than recycling? Reducing! Reduce, re-use then recycle. Check out our other articles
Part 1 – Reduce – 13 Ways to Reduce Your Impact on the Environment
Part 2 – Reuse – 10 Ideas for Reusing Consumables
1. Soft Plastic
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Creates outdoor furniture for Aussie Primary Schools.
Accepted Waste
Empty bread and cereal bags
Frozen food bags
Plastic shopping bags
Any other flexible plastic packaging
Coles – Find a Participating Store
2. Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Related Packaging
FREE program offered by Terra Cycle.
FREE Shipping – Simply download a Pre-paid return label.
Multiple drop off locations also available.
Earn $$$ to donate to your favourite school or non-profit organisation.
Accepted Waste:
Toothpaste tubes, caps & outer packaging
Toothbrushes & outer packaging
Floss containers
Terra Cycle – Oral Care Recycling Program.
3. Clothes & Textiles
Did you know?
H & M give 15% off your next purchase with each bag donated.
H & M Rewear, Reuse or Recycle all donated items.
Drop off to your local store.
For every 1kg collected 0.02 Euros (Approx $0.03 AUD) is donated to a local charity chosen by H & M.
More information head to H & M Sustainability
Accepted Waste:
Clothes – any brand and condition
Textiles – any brand and condition
4. Mailing Satchels
FREE program offered by Terra Cycle.
FREE Shipping – Simply download a Pre-paid return label.
Multiple drop off locations also available.
Earn $$$ to donate to your favourite school or non-profit organisation.
Accepted Waste:
Prepaid Mailing Satchels & Padded Mailing Satchels
Terra Cycle – Mail Satchel Recycling Program
5. Beauty Products
FREE program offered by Terra Cycle.
FREE Shipping – Simply download a Pre-paid return label.
Multiple drop off locations also available.
Earn $$$ to donate to your favourite school or non-profit organisation.
Accepted Waste:
Cosmetics packaging such as used lipstick and lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, lip liner, and concealer packaging.
Hair care packaging such as used shampoo and conditioner bottles and caps, hair gel tubes and caps, hair spray and hair treatment packaging.
Skin care packaging such as lip balm, face moisturiser, face and body wash soap dispensers and tubes, body and hand lotion dispensers and tubes and shaving foam packaging.
Terra Cycle – Beauty Products Recycling Program
6. Contact Lenses & Blister Packs
FREE program offered by Terra Cycle.
FREE Shipping – Simply download a Pre-paid return label.
Multiple drop off locations also available.
Earn $$$ to donate to your favourite school or non-profit organisation.
Accepted Waste:
All brands of contact lenses
All brands of contact lense blister packs
Terra Cycle – Contact lense and blister packaging
7. Batteries
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Did you know?
There are a wide range of battery types, many of which contain toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury and lead. Others contain valuable materials like magnesium and zinc. Used rechargeable batteries are a hazardous waste and should not be placed in the garbage bin. All Aldi Stores have collection points [closest Aldi store] Battery World stores also give out FREE little wheelie bins to store your expired batteries. Simply take them into store to dispose of [closest Battery World store.]
Includes batteries in laptops, mobile phones, power tools and cameras.
Planet Ark – Recycling Drop Off Points Near You – Batteries
8. Computers & Accessories
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Did you know?
Australians are among the highest users of new technology in the world and purchase over 2.4 million computers every year. This makes electronic waste or e-waste, including computers and accessories, a growing problem. Computers are ideal for recycling due to their large volumes, inclusion of hazardous materials, and good resource recovery potential for non-renewable resources like tin, nickel, zinc and copper.
Sell of give it away on Gumtree A lot of computer repairers are looking for these on here! I have personally sold 2 laptops for a solid $50.
Planet Ark – Recycling Drop Off Points Near You – Computers & Accessories
9. Sports Shoes
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Help those in need.
Did you know?
You can put a smile on someone’s feet? Give your unwanted sports shoes to someone in need!
10. Mobile Phones
FREE program.
FREE Shipping – simply download a reply paid label .
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Did you know?
Over 95% of the materials in mobile phones can be recovered to make new products. The gold, silver, copper, nickel, cadmium and plastics in the mobiles can be turned into jewellery, stainless steel, batteries and plastic fence posts and pallets. The mobile phone industry claims that you can recover the same amount of gold from 50,000 handsets as from mining 110 tonnes of gold ore.
Mobile Phones & batteries
Mobile Muster – Participating Locations .
OR
Planet Ark – Recycling Drop off Points – Mobile Phones
11. Return and Earn (NSW)
$0.10 refund for most 150ml to 3L drink containers
Multiple Collection/Donation Points including vending machines and over the counter options.
Accepted Waste:
Most 150ml to 3L drink containers
More details on Return & Earn here
12. TV’s
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Did you know?
Electrical appliances are made up of a broad range of materials including precious metals (such as gold and platinum), toxic heavy metals, metal circuitry, mixed plastics, fire retardants and glass. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic as well as flame-retardants can cause environmental contamination through leaching from e-waste in landfill into water systems. By recycling, this contamination can be avoided and useful resources can be conserved, as up to 95% of materials can be recovered for reuse.
Planet Ark – Recycling Drop Off Points Near You – TV’s
13. Council Recycling Bins
FREE!
Do it Yourself at Home.
Did you know?
These items are recyclable through these bins?
plastic food containers, tubs and trays
‘Tetra pak’ drink containers
aerosol cans
These items are NOT recyclable through these bins?
soft plastics including plastic bags (see #1 recycle at Coles)
polystyrene and foam packaging
light globes, mirrors and window glass
nappies
What can go in the recycling bin? – Brisbane
What can go in the recycling bin? – Sydney
14. Hotel Toiletries
Unused toiletries
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Help those in need.
Did you know?
Hotel toiletries are great for homeless people. Small and easy to carry. I collect unused hotel toiletries to donate to the homeless through Making a Difference.
Give toiletries to me or contact Making a Difference on their Facebook Page to find a drop off point near you.
For other areas simply search for homeless shelters in your area.
15. Printer Cartridges
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Did you know?
Australians throw away more than 18 million printer cartridges every year. This amounts to over 5,000 tonnes of material, including laser toner cartridges, inkjet cartridges, photocopier toner bottles and drums, that will eventually end up in landfill. When printer cartridges break apart in landfill, they have the potential to contaminate groundwater and the environment. All Officeworks and Cartridge World stores plus participating Australia Post, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, JB Hi Fi collect used cartridges.
Planet Ark – Recycling Drop Off Points Near You – Printer Cartridges
Get a FREE cartridge collection box for your workplace.
16. Bras
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Help those in need.
Did you know?
For women in disadvantaged communities a bra is often unobtainable or unaffordable.
17. White Goods
FREE program.
Multiple Drop Off Locations.
Did you know?
They contain significant amounts of metal, plastic, insulating material, refrigerant (gases) and other non-renewable and valuable material. Recycling keeps these materials in the economy. It also helps prevent toxic substances such as flame-retardants from entering the environment.
Including but not limited to fridges, freezers, microwave ovens, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers and air conditioners.
Planet Ark – Recycling Drop Off Points Near You – White Goods
18. Coffee/Tea Pods
FREE program offered by Terra Cycle.
FREE Shipping – Simply download a Pre-paid return label.
Multiple drop off locations also available.
Earn $$$ to donate to your favourite school or non-profit organisation.
Avoid using single use products where ever possible. However, if you do use Nespresso pods, PLEASE recycle them!
Terra Cycle – Nespresso Coffee Pods
Terra Cycle – NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Capsule
Terra Cycle – L’OR Coffee Capsules
Terra Cycle – Lipton Tea Capsules
Terra Cycle – EXPRESSI® Coffee Capsules
Did we miss anything Comment below with your recycling tips 🙂
What’s even better than recycling? Reducing! … Reduce >>> Reuse >>> Recycle … Check out our other articles:
Part 1 – Reduce – 13 Ways to Reduce Your Impact on the Environment
Part 2 – Reuse – 10 Ideas for Reusing Consumables
References & Resources
1. What can you put in your recycling bin? Brisbane
2. The Benefits of Recycling Paper – http://environment.about.com/od/recycling/a/The-Benefits-Of-Paper-Recycling-Why-Recycle-Paper.htm
3. 10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recyclehttp://www.coolaustralia.org/10-things-didnt-know-recycle/
4. Terra Cycle FREE Recycling programs – http://www.terracycle.com.au/en-AU/brigades
5. Business Recycling – http://businessrecycling.com.au/
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