Reuse, recycle, reduce: an A-Z of diverting waste
If you’re getting down in the dumps about the 885,000 tonnes of rubbish being sent to landfill in South Australia every year, you’re not alone.
But there’s a lot we can do to reuse, recycle and reduce our waste. Here are some common household items and how you can dispose of them correctly.
Check back soon as we add more to the list.
Directory
A
Aluminium foil
Alfoil can be recycled in the yellow bin if it is clean, dry and scrunched into a fist-sized ball. If the piece is a bit small, you can keep adding to the ball it until it’s big enough to recycle.
You can also collect smaller pieces inside an aluminium can before putting it in the recycling bin. This helps prevent small pieces from floating around loose in the bin.
B
Balls
Take your broken or unwanted sports balls to a participating Rebel sports store or local sports club to be recycled into sustainable products such as mats or flooring.
The drop-off locations accept all inflatable balls including, basketballs, soccer balls, and footballs as well as tennis balls.
Batteries
Batteries of all shapes and sizes should never be placed in kerbside bins because they contain toxic materials which can contaminate soil and groundwater.
B-cycle has more than 500 drop-off-locations across South Australia, and accept a wide range of batteries.
Put a bit of sticky tape over the ends before recycling to reduce the risk of fires or injury from residual charge.
Car batteries: If your battery goes flat and you’ve called an RAA Patrol for a jump-start, they’ll thoroughly test it and, if the battery requires replacing, will take the old one to be recycled so you don’t have to worry about it.
Blister packs
Blister packs contain metal and plastic components that are difficult to separate, so they can’t be placed in the yellow bin.
Instead, pop your used tablet sheets in a Pharmacycle receptible at participating pharmacies, libraries or local businesses.
C
Coffee pods
Not all coffee pods can be recycled, so choose the brand you’re purchasing mindfully.
Local South Australian pod producer Urban Brew has developed pods that are compostable and can be thrown in your green bin, local council permitting.
Nespresso accept their own used aluminium capsules. Drop them off or post to your nearest Nespresso.
There are a number of drop-off locations for L’OR, Moccona, illy, Campos and Jed’s and Lavazza. If you can’t make it to a drop-off point, print a prepaid label and send the pods to Terracycle for recycling.
Corks
ReCORK is a pilot recycling program that turns your natural cork stoppers into anti-fatigue foot mats. Recycling this living resource means that fewer additional cork trees are harvested.
They’re currently accepted at participating Dan Murphy’s across the country with more locations to come – find your nearest here.
D
Dolls and toys
Most op shops will accept dolls and toys in good condition. However, if the truck has been played with a little bit too vigorously or Barbie has received a dramatic haircut, you can take them to a participating BIG W Toys for Joy collection bin.
E
Egg cartons
Even though egg cartons are made from recycled, low-grade paper and cardboard, they can’t go in your yellow bin – especially if you’ve had an ‘egg-cident’. Instead, egg cartons are compostable and can go in the green bin.
E-waste
Advances in technology and shorter product lifecycles mean more electronic waste – commonly known as e-waste – is ending up in landfill than ever before. If you can’t sell or donate e-waste, take it to your local Unplug N’ Drop location, often found outside hardware stores.
F
Fishing line, spool and other related equipment
Fishing line spool, with all fishing line removed, is recyclable and can be put in your yellow bin.
Fishing line can cause significant environmental damage and harm sea birds and animals. Dispose of unwanted fishing line at a participating Daiwa Fishing dealer.
Old, unwanted and broken fishing gear such as lures, floats and sinkers can be posted reply-paid to OzFish as part of their TackleLoop sustainability project.
Fridges and freezers
Fridges and freezers are some of the most complicated whitegoods to dispose of correctly, but it’s possible.
If the item’s still working, try selling or giving it away online through Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. South Australians can also contact YESS – an incentivised collection service that takes your working, good-quality fridges and freezers and in return, you can be compensated with a gift voucher or bank transfer.
Non-working fridges and freezers must be disposed of correctly so they can be degassed and don’t release harmful greenhouse gasses. Electronic Recycling Australia in Ottoway and some Unplug N’ Drop locations accept defunct fridges and freezers.
Many councils also collect fridges and freezers as part of their hard rubbish service. Make sure you follow any instructions before collection. For instance, taking the doors off for safety.
G
Glasses
Check with your local charity shop to see if you can donate used glasses and frames directly.
Spectacles, hearing aids and unused contact lenses can be posted reply-paid to the Lions Recycle for Sight Australia program.
You can also drop glasses off at most South Australian HCF and Specsavers branches.
H
Hair
Hair, nail clippings and pet fur are great for composting and can either go in your home compost bin or the green bin.
I
Ink cartridges
You can take your empty ink cartridges and laser toners to any Officeworks or participating Australia Post office.
They can also be deposited in Unplug N’ Drop bins which can be found across the state.
J
Junk mail
Junk mail comes in a variety of different paper and cardboard materials, but the good news is it can be placed in your yellow recycling bin.
K
Keys
Give old keys to opportunity shops or art stores where these items can be upcycled, restored or used for art purposes.
Many local recycling centres will accept old keys that can be melted down and the metal reused. Make sure you remove any plastic covers or tags attached.
Electronic keys such as old car keys are considered e-waste and can be taken to an Unplug N’ Drop location.
L
Light globes
Light globes can’t be put in your yellow recycling bin. Instead South Australians can take various light bulbs to one of many locations within the state.
For suburban dwellers, there’s also a recycling disposal area at IKEA that accepts incandescent and LED bulbs, and fluorescent tubes, as well as other materials such as paper, cardboard and batteries.
If you live in regional SA, Mitre 10 retailers and other hardware stores may have light globe recycling services.
M
Makeup
The beauty industry produces billions of pieces of packaging a year that may be contaminated with leftover products that are harmful to the environment if put in landfill.
Several beauty brands have partnered with TerraCycle to recycle empty products and packaging. You can pop empty lipstick and glosses, palettes, hair product packaging, mascara, perfume bottles and other makeup packaging into the TerraCycle bin at your local MECCA, Sephora, David Jones, Priceline or L’Occitane retailer.
Mattresses
Mattresses are one of the most common items sent to landfill, but it’s possible to give them a second life or have them recycled.
Try selling or donating your used mattresses online or through community services such as Buy Nothing. Some charity stores accept mattresses in excellent condition.
There are several manufacturers who offer “take-back” services. For instance, IKEA recycle your old mattresses when you purchase a new one from them.
Many local councils can collect mattresses and/or ensemble bases to be dismantled.
Mobile phones
MobileMuster accepts old phones in all states of disrepair, as well as modems, landline phones and other technology. Many local phone-carrier stores are drop-off points and the Adelaide RAA Shop will be trialling a drop-off box for until October 2024.
You can also mail your donations using prepaid labels and satchels from the MobileMuster website free of charge.
N
Nuts and bolts
If you don’t want to hold on to leftover nuts, bolts, nails and screws after your latest DIY project, these building materials can be recycled as scrap metal with your local council.
O
Oil paints and tins
Leftover tins of paint can’t be put in any kerbside bins
Art centres may take spare paint or you can list the paint online for another handy person to take off your hands.
You can drop off old tins and paint at a Paintback collection site.
P
Pens and pencils
Pencils can go in your green organics bin.
Pens, textas, highlighters, mechanical pencils and even liquid paper can be taken to your nearest participating Officeworks.
Pizza boxes
Even though pizza boxes are made from cardboard, these should go in your green bin if they’re dirty, not your yellow recycling bin.
Used cardboard burger boxes, paper towels and even those paper bags that bakery treats come in can also go in your green bin.
Q
Quilts and blankets
If bedding items are in good condition, you can sell or donate them, or if you’re handy with a needle and thread, upcycle your quilts and blankets into something new.
Homeware retailer Sheridan offers a recycling program for damaged pre-loved quilt covers, sheets and towels of any brand, as long as they are cleaned first.
For a small fee, you can also send your unwearable clothes, bedding and damaged materials to UPPAREL and be rewarded with a voucher to your choice of almost 80 partner brands.
Animal shelters and vets will also accept quilts and blankets to make comfy bedding to keep their animals warm and comfortable.
R
Razors
Any brand of razor plus their packaging (including the rigid plastic) can be recycled free of charge. Collect a few together in a sturdy box you have laying around, then download a prepaid shipping label and send to TerraCycle for recycling or find your nearest drop-off location.
Remote controls
Remote controls are considered e-waste and therefore can be dropped off at any point that accepts electronic goods, such as Unplug N’ Drop.
S
Shoes
If you have footwear that’s too damaged to give away, it doesn’t have to go straight into the red bin.
There are more than 100 sites in South Australia that have collection points for your used sports shoes. They accept any branded or unbranded sports shoes, football boots, hiking boots, and even thongs and leather school shoes.
Soft plastics
A purpose-built facility is being built to allow South Australians to recycle soft plastics such as shopping bags, chip packets and food wrappers, expected to be completed in 2025. Stay tuned for more information.
Until this option is available, some councils are trialling temporary pilot programs to recycle soft plastics.
City of Charles Sturt residents can register to receive free orange bags that can be filled with your soft plastics and placed in your yellow recycling bin.
For City of Adelaide residents, register here for your soft plastics recycling bag.
Holdfast Bay has bins for soft plastic at the Brighton Civic Centre and Glenelg North Community Garden. Check your local council’s website to see if they offer an interim soft plastic recycling solution.
Styrofoam
Don’t put Styrofoam or polystyrene in your yellow recycling bin as it will contaminate other materials. Specialised collection points across the state can melt it down and turn it into new products, and some local recycling centres will take the waste.
T
Toothbrushes
Your worn manual toothbrushes can be taken to a participating dentist to be recycled.
Dental clinics and other community drop off points, in partnership with TerraCycle, also accept floss containers and picks, toothpaste tubes and electric toothbrush heads.
Tyres
To make sure your used tyres don’t go straight to landfill, choose a mechanic, retailer or dealership who is accredited through Tyre Stewardship Australia. This will ensure your old tyres are being recycled correctly.
Take any other tyres you may have around the home to one of these locations to ensure they’re recycled.
U
USB drives
If you have a surplus of USBs and hard drives, CDs, DVDs and other disks to get rid of, take them to your local Officeworks who will ensure they are recycled appropriately.
V
Vinyl flooring
Initiatives such as the Forever and Ever program accept clean used flooring and offcuts which they then repurpose.
W
Wetsuits
Ripcurl wants your old, worn or outgrown wetsuits, which will then be repurposed into other things like soft fall matting for playgrounds. Make sure your wetsuit is dry (but no need to clean it first), then mail it free of charge or drop it into the Henley Beach Ripcurl store.
Windowed envelopes
While windowed envelopes are a mix of plastic and paper, it’s safe to put them in your yellow recycling bin.
X
X-rays
X-rays contain precious metals that can be extracted and reused.
There’s a number of places you can drop off old X-rays, including your local council recycling centre and clinics that are part of the I-ED Radiology network.
Y
Yoga mats
Some yoga mat manufacturers have developed biodegradable mats made of materials such as cork and jute. These mats can be put in your personal compost bin, but avoid the kerbside green bin.
Non-biodegradable yoga mats can be reused in several ways. Make kneeling pads for the garden, cut them up for mousepads or donate the mats to animal shelters and vets.
Z
Zip ties
Zip ties are single-use only, but they can be recycled.
Individually, they are too small to be put in the yellow bin. Instead collect a few together in a clean empty plastic container or bottle and then place them in the recycling bin.
Poll: What is your approach to waste and recycling?
Waste not, want not
Check out these other resources for household items we haven’t covered.