You should not put old electric shavers in your regular trash or recycling bin because they're e-waste containing valuable and hazardous materials; instead, take them to dedicated e-waste drop-off centers, council recycling centers, retail take-back programs (like Harvey Norman), or check with manufacturers for recycling schemes. Always check your local council's website for nearby e-waste facilities, as components like batteries (lithium-ion) need specialized handling to prevent fires and environmental harm.
You can now recycle small electricals with your weekly kerbside waste and recycling collections. If you put out your waste and recycling in wheeled bins or sacks on the street, you can now place out anything with a plug, cable or battery on top of your refuse bin or next to your sacks.
No, you absolutely should not throw electrical items (e-waste) in your regular rubbish or recycling bins in Australia; it's often banned from landfill in many states due to hazardous materials and valuable resources, posing fire risks and environmental contamination, so you must use dedicated e-waste drop-off points, council services, or store collections for proper recycling or reuse.
So, what should you do if you really have to get rid of a shaver or toothbrush? Remove the battery, and pull out the circuit board and motor if you can. If you can't get the battery out, dispose of the whole device as e-waste.
Yes, many Bunnings, especially in South Australia, accept e-waste through their "Unplug 'N' Drop" program for items with cords or batteries, but availability varies by store, so it's best to check with your local store first for accepted items like small appliances, computers, and accessories.
Using a recycling bank. Recycling banks are available in many locations. The new banks allow local residents to bring unwanted or broken small electrical appliances and drop them off for recycling.
The best way to dispose of electronics involves data wiping, then recycling via specialized programs (like MobileMuster for phones, B-cycle for batteries, or the National TV & Computer Scheme), retailer drop-offs (Apple, The Good Guys, JB Hi-Fi), or local council facilities, or reusing/donating working devices to extend their life and prevent landfill. Avoid putting them in regular trash, as they contain harmful materials and valuable resources.
Many local councils accept electrical appliances at their waste and recycling facilities, so it is also worth checking with your local council.
Electronics, hazardous, and universal waste are non-recyclable and are to be disposed in ways other than to the trash can. Examples of this type of waste include batteries, aerosol cans, ink correction fluid, fluorescent bulbs, paint, electronic equipment, and thermometers.
Working equipment can be sold or donated, while broken items should be taken to an electronics recycling facility like South Group Recycling.
No, you generally cannot put appliances in your regular household trash or recycling bins because they are considered e-waste (electronic waste) and contain hazardous materials that are harmful to the environment if landfilled. Instead, you should take them to designated e-waste drop-off centers, participate in council bulk waste collections, or use retailer take-back programs for proper recycling or disposal.
Three examples of products that generally cannot be recycled in standard curbside programs are plastic bags/film, Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene), and dirty/greasy paper products (like pizza boxes or paper towels). These items often contaminate recycling streams or jam machinery, requiring special disposal or collection methods, according to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and AMCS Group.
How to recycle bras
Razors can go in a sharps containers and disposed of with medical sharps. Non-medical razor blades (like disposable shaving razors) are allowed in the landfill cart, but please handle them safely and tape them or put them in a sealed container if necessary.
Battery-operated devices include watches, activity trackers, Fitbits, electric toothbrushes, toys, calculators and musical greeting cards. If your device is in working condition, give it away or sell it. Electric toothbrushes should not be reused and their batteries should be recycled.
Recycle at home
Some local authorities accept small electricals as part of their home recycling scheme. If yours does there may be special instructions on how to put them out for collection - for example, place small electrical items in a clear plastic bag tied to your recycling bin.
So when its reached the end of its useful life, return your electrical and electronic waste to your local authority recycling centre (at no charge) or participating electrical retailers (where's there's no purchase necessary), and drop waste lightbulbs to local authority recycling centres and hardware and lighting ...
No, you should not throw a laptop in your household bin. Laptops contain harmful materials such as heavy metals and chemicals, which can leak into the environment if sent to landfill. It's important to recycle them responsibly through a registered recycling centre or collection service.
Some electric razor manufacturers now offer mail-in recycling programs. At the same time, some retailers will accept personal grooming products, making it easier than ever for consumers to recycle responsibly. If your razor still works, consider fixing it or donating it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
Many items seem recyclable but aren't, including soft plastics (chip bags, bread bags), soiled paper/cardboard (greasy pizza boxes, paper towels, tissues), small items (bottle caps, straws), ceramics/Pyrex, batteries, Styrofoam, nappies, and some mixed-material containers (coffee cups with plastic lining), as these contaminate loads or jam machinery, requiring special disposal.
Disposal options
If you have any licensed software, deactivate and remove it. You can then wipe the drive to remove any traces of personal data. You'll then want to ensure that the computer is usable for the next person who gets it, or unusable if it's headed for the nearest recycling center.
Remove SIM and SD cards
If your phone has a SIM card, it may store your personal information. Remove the SIM card. If you're going to keep the same phone number, you may be able to transfer your SIM card to your new phone. If you're not going to reuse the SIM card, destroy it.
How to dispose old mobile phones safely and responsibly
For instance, if you just toss it in the trash, your old laptop can end up in the wrong hands, leaving your data exposed. Even worse, it can end up in landfills, leak rare earth elements, and cause damage to the environment and our health.