8 easy ways to recycle household items
Living in a bustling city like Sydney, it’s easy to forget the mountains of waste we generate. But the good news is that many household items can be recycled, reducing the landfill burden and creating new products. Let’s explore some everyday items that can be given a second life.
What household items to recycle in Sydney (and how!)
Check out these household items and learn how to easily recycle them in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
1. Books
You have two main options to consider when recycling books:
1. Donate them to an op shop. Several are available along Military Road in Neutral Bay, like Lifeline and Salvos.
2. Donate them to a local street library. There are thousands across Australia, including a couple in Neutral Bay. The idea is to leave a book and take a book. But if you’re trying to reduce waste, feel free just to leave a book.
2. Sports shoes
Did you know the Australian Sporting Goods Association created TreadLightly, an initiative that allows you to recycle old shoes and reduce your footprint? Drop off old sports shoes at Rebel in Sydney CBD, and they’ll get a second life as a gym mat, floors or even a kid’s playground!
3. Stationery and technology
Thanks to Officeworks’ Bring it Back program, you can recycle all types of stationery and tech items. Click the link for an in-depth guide, but here’s a quick glimpse at what you can recycle at any Officeworks store:
- Pens and markers
- Ink and toner cartridges
- Laptops, computers, tablets and their corresponding accessories.
You can also trade in your old tech items and receive an Officeworks gift card to spend on the updated model if you wish.
4. Toys
Big W’s Toys for Joy program is the first of its kind in Australia. Its goal is to reduce landfill by recycling preloved toys. The toys you can’t recycle include books, toys with batteries, board games, stationery and oversized toys. Luckily, you can recycle most of these elsewhere, including op shops. Big W Warringah Mall and Town Hall are the closest participating stores to Neutral Bay.
5. Beauty products
In partnership with Maybelline New York and Terracycle, you can recycle empty beauty and makeup products at your local Priceline in Neutral Bay and North Sydney. Gather your empty products from any brand and drop them in the in-store recycling bins. You don’t have to clean out the containers, but they must be empty.
6. Prescription glasses
If you have pre-loved glasses from a few prescriptions ago, hand them to a team member at your local Specsavers store. They’ve partnered with Lions Recycle for Sight, which delivers quality glasses and sunglasses to people in need overseas.
7. Clothing
While op shops are the obvious answer, you can also donate any old clothes and textiles to H&M and receive a thank-you voucher to use towards your next purchase. ZARA offers a similar program.
8. Miscellaneous
Honestly, whatever you’ve got left can probably be recycled through a Bower Reuse and Repair Centre collection. We’re talking furniture, kitchenware, decor, sports and leisure equipment, bikes, tools, timber, doors, windows, gardening items, paint, plumbing materials and tiles.
Basically, the only things they don’t take are mattresses, stained furniture, washing machines, baby items, big kitchen appliances and fitness equipment.
Neutral Bay residents can also recycle several household items at the local Community Recycling Centre in Artarmon. Capped at 20 kg per customer per drop off, check out what you can drop off.
By making small changes and utilising the resources available in the Northern Beaches, we can significantly reduce household waste and contribute to a more sustainable future for our city.
Are you thinking of selling your Neutral Bay home?
Feel free to get in touch with us today for advice and insights into the current market outlook – we’re always happy to chat.
