Don't know how to get rid of some things?
We’ve rounded up some clever, easy ways to deal with those tricky-to-dispose-of items, so they don’t end up in landfill.
Ready to get it sorted?
Here’s a quick list of where to recycle some common household items:
E-waste
E-waste is any item with a plug, battery or cord and can include batteries, LED & fluorescent globes, mobile phones, irons, TVs, hair dryers, computer equipment and power tools.
It is important that e-waste is disposed of correctly.
E-waste cannot be disposed of in kerbside bins. It can cause fires in landfill or the waste collection trucks and contains hazardous chemicals that will contaminate landfill.
You can drop e-waste off for free at Anglesea, Lorne or Winchelsea Transfer Stations.
Clothing
Did you know on average we buy 27kg (56 items) of new clothing each year and then dispose of 23kg of clothes in landfill?
Clothes in good condition can be donated or passed onto friends, but what do you do with clothes that have reached the end of their life?
Retailers like Zara, UNIQLO and H&M offer free in-store textile recycling, while mail-in programs like Upparel accept a wide range of clothing and accessories.
School uniforms and corporate workwear can also be recycled through specialised programs, and Rip Curl in Torquay accepts wetsuits for recycling.
See our full list of where you can recycle your textiles
It’s also a good idea to ask yourself what clothes you really need before you buy. Textile waste is an increasing problem due to the rise of ‘fast fashion’.
Sheets, towels and blankets
Selected Sheridan stores (our nearest is Geelong) accept old towels, sheets and quilt covers for recycling.
You can also check with any animal rescue shelters or mechanics that may use old but clean sheets or towels.
If you can’t find anywhere to recycle your old Manchester, pillows or cushions, then they can only go in your red-lid landfill bin.
Don’t put any bedding or textiles in your yellow-lid recycling bin.
Shoes
Your old footwear can be turned into a vast range of products, including children’s playground matting, underlay for sporting surfaces and retail flooring.
The Tread Lightly program will recycle your old:
- sport shoes
- gumboots
- leather school shoes
- hiking boots
The closest drop off locations are Rebel Sport, Mac Pac and Shoes and Sox in Waurn Ponds.
Totally Workwear’s Boot Recycling Program will recycle your old work boots at their store in South Geelong.
Tetrapacks
This one’s easy: cardboard cartons that hold liquids (such as tetrapaks) can now go in the yellow-lid recycling bin. This includes milk cartons with a gable top (think 1-litre milk carton) and ice cream containers.
Just make sure they are empty (no need to rinse!).
The lids need to go in your red-lid landfill bin, however, as they are too small for the recycling machines to sort.
Disposable coffee cups and takeaway soft drink cups are not accepted in the recycling bin.
Got a tricky item that's not on this list?
Check our handy A-Z Guide on the Surf Coast Rubbish and Recycling App (SCRRApp) or on our website for other suggestions on recycling common household items that can’t go in the yellow-lid bin.