A
Asbestos
| > | Click here for information on safely and legally removing asbestos |
| > | Contact EPA or Safe Work SA |
B
Batteries
| > | Alkaline batteries, ie. those used in remote controls, torches etc have limited recycling options and small amounts can be placed in your waste bin. Most councils offer a battery recycling service at community centers and libraries so please check with your local council and ask if they offer this service. Many supermarkets as well as ALDI and IKEA stores also offer a recycling service for AA, AAA, C, D and 9V sized batteries (rechargeable and non- rechargeable) are accepted through B-Cycle program. Click here to find your nearest drop-off location. |
| > | Lead Acid and Lithium batteries, ie. Rechargeable mobile phone, car and motorbike batteries contain hazardous substances must not be placed in any kerbside bins. Lithium batteries are highly flamable and are a common cause of fires in collection trucks. Please take these to your local Household Chemical and Paints Depot. 98% of lead acid batteries can be reclaimed through the Century Yuasa nationwide battery recycling program. Automotive batteries can be recycled at auto part retailers or service stations. You can also take them to your local Household Chemical and Paints Depot. |
| > | Nickel-cadmium (NiCd): used in rechargeable batteries, hazardous waste, must be recycled, these can be recycled through a number of locations listed on the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative page |
| > | Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) or Lithium-ion: used in laptops, non-hazardous waste, can be recycled through a number of locations listed on the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative |
Bean Bags
| > | To minimise risk of harmful polystyrene (EPS) balls spilling into the environment, do not place out for hard waste collection! If the bean bag cannot be reused, place both bag and polystyrene balls (contained in a bag to prevent spillage), in your red or blue landfill bin. However, larger types of bean bags may not fit into a bin in one piece. In cases such as this, you can take it directly to your local transfer station. Reuse options: The most obvious way to reuse your EPS bean bag filling is to purchase a replacement cover and reuse it in the new bean bag. Try giving away the EPS filling through Facebook marketplace and other give-away, swap and sell sites. Certain groups may use the material in manufacturing yard and garden ornaments. | |
Bricks, rocks, dirt, pavers, concrete and building materials
| > | Drop off at your local waste and recycling depot *please call them first to check which items they accept and fees that may apply. |
| > | Salvage yards may take bricks, pavers and tiles if they think they can be resold. |
| > | Giveaway or sell on; Facebook Marketplace Gumtree Freecycle |
C/D
Car parts
| > | e.g. gear boxes,engine blocks and panels can be recycled through a car dismantler or scrap metal business. Click here to find local auto wreckers and recyclers. Click here to find local scrap metal recycling locations. |
> CDs, DVDs, video or audio tapes
| > | Giveaway or sell them through Facebook Marketplace Gumtree Freecycle Freally CDs and DVDs can be taken to Officeworks stores for recycling. Please ensure that the covers are removed first. CDs and DVDs and their CASES can be taken to YCA Recycling (16-20 Johansson Rd, Wingfield). The CD or DVD needs to be taken out of the casing to be recycled separately. Any soft plastic or cardboard outer packaging also needs to be removed from the casing. |
Chain, Rope, String or Fishing Line
| > | Place in the general waste/waste to landfill bin |
Clothing and textiles
| > | Donate only good quality items to charity. Return them to store Here is a list of retailers who are involved in the garment collection program in Adelaide: H&M Zara Country Road Sheridan Upparel The North Face Sell or giveaway Items can be sold or given away through Facebook marketplace or community buy, sell and swap pages. Boomerang bags may also be able to use your clothing and textiles to create cloth bags. Animal shelters will accept sheets, towels and blankets (not quilts or pillows). Local Mechanics may accept your old towels, sheets and cotton based clothing for use as rags. Clothing Recycling Services If you live too far from any of these retailers, there are plenty of great recycling services around Adelaide to ensure that unwanted clothing items will be reused. Here is a list of clothing recycling services operating around Adelaide: Hackham Recyclers: Hackham Recyclers is located in the Southern suburbs of Adelaide, operating seven days a week. They encourage people to deliver any damaged or unwanted goods to their warehouse to be recycled or donated to Goodwill. SRCgroup: SRCgroup is Australia’s leading clothing recycling service offering governments, shopping centres, schools, private organisations, charities and retailers opportunities to recycle unwanted items. To use their services, simply drop off your clothes in their bins at these major shopping centres around the city: Colonnades, Noarlunga Centre Kurralta Central, Kurralta Park Castle Plaza, Edwardstown Elizabeth Shopping Centre, Elizabeth Arndale Shopping Centre, Kilkenny Hollywood Plaza, Salisbury Downs Ingle Farm Shopping Centre, Ingle Farm Clipboard Stationers and Art Supplies, Morphett Vale Click here for your nearest location ShredX: Clothing And Uniform Shredding Services ShredX specialises in recycling and shredding branded clothes and uniforms in order to stop the spread of counterfeit production. They provide a secure destruction service which has a convenient pick up service to your home address or work location. UPPAREL Unwanted textiles can be sent to UPPAREL l through their online clothing collection and clothing donation bins. Simply select the amount of unwanted clothing, linen, shoes and other textiles to recycle. Recycling costs start from $35 for 10kg box. Then book a collection or drop off at AusPost. A printed label will be supplied to adhere to your box(es), then drop off at Australia Post or leave them outside for collection. 100% of the recoverable textiles that come to UPPAREL are reused, repurposed, or recycled within our operational ecosystem – meaning absolutely nothing is sent to landfill. If these aren’t accessible options for you, then place old textiles in the general waste to landfill bin. |
F
Fertilisers
| > | If disposed of or used incorrectly, fertilisers can cause harm to our environment as the phosphates and nitrates which they contain, can be toxic to our soil and waterways. |
| > | Unwanted fertiliser can be given to neighbours, friends or family members or to a local community garden. |
| > | Giveaway online through Facebook shop, ‘buy, swap & sell’ groups, Gumtree or Freecycle. |
Fire extinguisher
| > | Check with your local waste transfer station or waste depot whether they will accept them. Those that are licensed to accept scrap metal will generally accept used fire extinguishers. Many Councils operate waste transfer stations or waste depots and will be able to provide advice on where they are located in your local area. |
| > | Most extinguishers can be recharged or taken to most fire safety stores (eg; eFire and Safety on Grand Junction Rd, Mansfield Park) for correct disposal and recycling. |
| > | Yellow body BCF fire extinguishers are banned in SA and must be taken to your local Household Chemical and Paint drop off location. Click here to find your nearest location. |
| > | Fire stations will ONLY accept domestic BCF (yellow body) fire extinguishers and domestic foam (containing PFAS) fire extinguishers (red with a blue band). These extinguishers can be taken to MFS Logistics/Stores 84 Angas St Adelaide if you are in the metropolitan area. If you are in a regional area, please drop off at your local fire station. NOTE: The MFS will NOT accept any business or industrial fire extinguishers |
| > | If used for commercial/business safety purposes, fire extinguishers should be tested and tagged every 6-12 months by a qualified Fire Safety service provider. |
G
Gas bottles
| > | LPG BBQ gas bottles can be refilled through Swap ‘n’ Go exchange available at most service stations, contact Elgas at Para Hills West on 8368 4700 for location details |
| > | Go to RecyclingNearYou.com.au for drop off locations |
| > | Take to a Household Hazardous Waste Depot; Free metro drop-off locations: Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre Where: 181 Morphett Road, North Plympton Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7 am to 4 pm, Saturday 8 am to 3 pm, and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm Campbelltown Works Depot Where: 6 Newton Road, Campbelltown Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 am to 3 pm NAWMA Resource Recovery Centre, Edinburgh North Where: Gate 3, Bellchambers Road, Edinburgh North Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8 am to 4pm, weekends 9 am to 3 pm Heathfield Resource Recovery Centre Where: 32 Scott Creek Road, Heathfield Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 4 pm, weekends 9 am to 4 pm |
| > | Contact All Pressure Testing at Lonsdale on 8384 6737 |
| > | Contact the EPA or your local council |
Glasses (sight)
| > | Recycle for Sight– Lions Clubs International, collect eye glasses through the ‘Recycle for Sight’ program. Donations are then given to people in developing countries |
| > | OneSight– drop off your reading glasses and sunglasses, broken or intact to any OPSM, Laubman and Pank or Budget Eyewear store. Your glasses are then distributed to charities helping developing communities. |
L
Light Globes
| > | Household light globes including halogen, incandescent and fluorescent globes can be taken to Mitre 10, Banner Hardware and IKEA stores. They will be recycled through the Backlight program where the globes are recycled by Chemsal Resource Recovery. Also ask your local lighting store if they provide a recycling service e.g. DeLights provide a recycling service for a small fee. |
M
Mobile Phones
| > | Handsets and batteries can be recycled through the Mobile Muster. |
| > | Some councils offer a mobile recycling service at community centres and libraries so please check with your local council and ask if they offer this service |
Motor Oil
| > | Motor oil can have serious repercussions on our waterways and environment if it is thrown away or poured down a drain. There many places such as council facilities, transfer stations, waste management centres or landfill sites accept used oil . Click here to find your nearest location. |
| > | Can be taken to your your local Household Chemical and Paints Depot. |
Medication
| > | Medication that is out of date or no longer used should be taken to your local pharmacy for correct disposal |
Mattress and ensembles
| > | Your Council hard waste collection service accepts mattresses and ensembles, these need to be booked separately for recycling and fees may apply. Check with your Council. |
| > | Unwanted mattresses and sofas can be disposed at cost through your local waste and recycling centre/licensed transfer station fees may apply. |
| > | Distribution360: They provide a pick-up service (fees apply), phone 8280 8700 or visit their visit their website for further details. |
P
Paint
| > | If the paint is dry/hard it can be scraped out of the tin into the waste bin. The empty metal tin can then be placed in your recycling bin. |
| > | If you have wet paint to dispose of, you can bring up to 20 litres of paint to your local Household Chemical and Paints Depot. |
Pallets
| > | Break them up and place into your Green Organics bin |
| > | Drop off at your local waste and recycling depot or Adelaide Pallet Recycling |
Polystyrene
| > | Polystyrene foam packaging, trays and cups – cannot be recycled in the yellow recycling bin! |
| Clean (ie no sticky tape, labels, dirt etc), white, rigid polystyrene packaging foam from electrical goods, furniture, homewares and toys can be recycled through the following options: 1. Electronics Recycling Australia, 301 Grand Junction Road Ottoway (drop off weekdays 8am-4pm only) OR 2. NAWMA’s Resource Recovery Centre, (drop off any day of the week), gate 3 Bellchambers Road, Edinburgh North. OR 3. Heathfield Resource Recovery Centre, 32 Scott Creek Road, Scott Creek. (drop off 7 days per week 9am-4pm). Closed Catastrophic Fire rated days, Good Friday and Boxing Day. OR 4. All Axis, 9 Maxwell Road Pooraka (drop off Monday – Friday 7am-5pm) OR 5. Unley Depot, 75 King William Road, Unley. (drop off MONDAYS ONLY 7.30am to 3.30pm, excluding public holidays) OR 6. Return it to the store where you purchased the goods from eg. Harvey Norman, Good Guys, Bunnings etc and ask them to recycle the packaging. They are likely to have a compactor for the polystyrene at their premises and will then send this off for recycling as it is much cheaper to recycle it than pay for a landfill skip for it. It also encourages these retailers to put pressure back on their suppliers to choose more sustainable and easily recyclable packaging such as moulded cardboard instead. If recycling isn’t an option for you, then please place it in the general waste to landfill bin. Note: To prevent polystyrene from becoming lodged and stuck inside the bin, blocking materials from being emptied, please ensure that the polystyrene is placed inside of a plastic bag and broken up into small pieces. Make sure the bag is tied at the top to prevent pieces from falling out and expel any air inside of the bag before sealing it. |
Printer Cartridges
| > | The plastic, metals and inks contained within printer cartridges can be recycled into new products. |
| > | Cartridges for Planet Ark’s a program with a variety of retail drop off points throughout South Australia. Recycle at Australia Post, JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Harvey Norman and Officeworks, Office National and Office Products Depot stores. Click here to find your nearest drop off point. |
| > | Check with your local council, as some councils offer a printer cartridge drop off location. |
Plastic Bags
| > | Please leave plastic bags and other soft plastics out of your recycling bin and green organics bin. |
| > | Plastic bags cannot be recycled through kerbside recycling or composted. They cause problems with the machinery at the materials recovery facility (MRF). |
| > | Place in the general waste/waste to landfill bin (red or blue lid). |
S
Scrap Metal
| > | Scrap metal can be taken for recycling at many recycling centres. Click here to find a location. |
Smoke Alarms
| > | Small quantities can be placed in the waste to landfill bin |
Sharps/Syringes
| > | The Needle Clean Up Hotline 1300 131 340 provides information on removing discarded needles and syringes from public places. |
| > | Some pharmacies will take used syringes. |
| > | Sharps disposal bins are installed in some council depot facilities. |
T
Toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes
| > | These items can be recycled through Terracycles ‘Oral Care Recycling Program‘ : Toothpaste tubes and caps, manual toothbrushes, electric toothbrush heads, toothbrush and toothpaste tube plastic packaging, floss containers. Click here then select ‘Oral Care’ for your nearest dropoff location. |
Tyres
| > | Each passenger tire contains approximately 1.5kg of steel, 0.5 kg of textiles and 7 kg of rubber. These are valuable resources which are wasted if they are not recycled and can cause health and environmental issues |
| > | Tyres can be recycled through Tyre Stewardship Australia. Some tyre service centres will recycle your tyres for free when you purchase new ones. For a list of participating retailers Click here |
| > | You can drop off old tyres to your local waste and recycling depot for a small fee. |
W
Wooden Pallets
| > | Break them up and place into your Green Organics bin |
| > | Drop off at your local waste and recycling depot or Adelaide Pallet Recycling |
X
X-Rays
| > | Take to most Red Cross Centres or Siltech, 1 Deeds Road Camden Park SA |
| > | Some council depots/transfer stations will also take x-rays. Check with your local council. E.g. Heathfield Transfer Station accepts X-rays free of charge |