Environmentally Friendly Waste Disposal

There are a number of organisations that can recycle different kinds of waste as an alternative to disposing of rubbish to landfill.

Mobile phones

Discarded mobile phones represent a large and growing waste problem.

MobileMuster - collects old phones and their batteries from mobile phone retail outlets around Australia.

Recycling Near You – lists places to drop off your old mobile phone and accessories in Hurstville City.

Cartridges

Planet Ark accepts any type of used toner or ink cartridge for recycling through its Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program. Cartridges are re-manufactured or recycled, regardless of their brand, age, make or model. Simply take your old cartridges into participating Australia Post or Harvey Norman outlets and place them into the specially marked recycling boxes.

Recycling Near You - lists places to drop off your cartridges in Hurstville City.

Batteries

Car batteries are recyclable and residents can take them to scrap metal merchants where the lead content is re-used. The plastic case of the battery will also be recycled to make products such as ‘syntal’, a heavy duty plastic material used in the building and engineering industries.

Car batteries can also be taken to the Lucas Heights Waste Management Centre, Rockdale Transfer Station or your local scrap metal merchant.

WSN Environmental Solutions - information on battery disposal. Alternatively, telephone 1300 651 116.

Chemical Clean Out - household batteries can be put into your red lidded waste bin or disposed of more responsibly at this annual Hurstville City Council event.

Chemicals

Chemical Clean Out - unwanted chemiclals are collected during Council's household chemical collection, offered in partnership with the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Electronic waste

Next time you upgrade your computer or other household electronic device be sure to recycle your old machine.

Technical Aid for the Disabled operates a computer loan service that accepts donations of used IBM compatible computer equipment and accessories from individuals and businesses to lend to people with disabilities. Preferred models include:

  • IBM-compatible Pentium 133 PCs and above (including laptops)
  • Pointing devices (mouse, trackball etc)
  • Monitors - 15'SVGA or better
  • Small desktop printers
  • Sound cards, components, batteries and cables
  • CD ROM drives
  • Modems.

Technical Aid for the Disabled – alternatively, telephone 02 9808 2022 or email tad@technicalaid.org.au.

Dell - accepts all computer makes and models with a fee-for-service. Alternatively telephone 1800 465 890.

SIMS Electronic Waste recycling plant at Villawood also receives all electronic waste, except white goods and microwaves, on a fee-for-service basis, at minimal rates. You can telephone SIMS on 02 9728 2658 and schedule a time to drop off your goods.

More information on electronic waste on Council's website.

Corks

Although recycled cork is never again used for wine stoppers, it has many other uses, including manufacture of place mats, coasters, floor tiles, gaskets, dart boards, and hockey balls.

Since 1990, Girl Guides Australia has collected over 90 million corks (9800 tonnes) under their cork recycling scheme.

Girl Guides Australia – alternatively, telephone 02 9698 3322.

The Body Shop – also collects cork from their retail stores.

Out-of-date or unwanted medicines

The National Return & Disposal of Unwanted Medicines - pharmacies are drop off points for unwanted medicines, which are then collected by The National Return & Disposal of Unwanted Medicines program. These medicines are destroyed by high temperature incineration. This is a free service.

Needles, Sharps and Syringes

While injecting equipment is often associated with recreational drug users, many people rely on needles, lancets or syringes to maintain their own health or that of a family member. Injecting equipment is also used by pet and livestock owners and vets.

For health and safety reasons, correct disposal of sharps is extremely important. Sharps must be secured in a strong puncture resistant container, such as an Australian Standard Sharps container. Sharps must not be placed in your recycling or garbage bin.

Please dispose of your sharps at authorised collection points (check with your local hospital).

Community Sharps - information on disposing of sharps. Alternatively telephone the Needle Cleanup Hotline on 1800 633 353.

Car parts, tyres, soil and miscellaneous waste

WSN Environmental Solutions – click on the ‘What to do with’ drop down tab. Alternatively telephone 1300 651 116.

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