Many people don’t realize you can recycle these items  – if you know the right places to go.

In NSW, the right place to go is to either your Household Chemical CleanOut event or local Community Recycling Centre (CRCs) – both of which are free to residents. Many other states and territories also have similar initiatives.

Here are some of the items that can be recycled via these means.

1. Batteries

You wouldn’t throw your car battery in the bin (would you?), but did you know all batteries are best taken to a recycling center?

You can take your old batteries to your next CleanOut event. Picture: Pexels

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Most states have designated recycling points for household and car batteries akin to the Community Recycling Centers or Chemical CleanOut events that take place in NSW.

Some stores like Batteryworld and ALDI also have specialized bins where you can leave your old AAs and AAAs. (Here’s a list for each state.)

Meanwhile, old mobile phone batteries can be disposed of via the MobileMuster recycling initiative, at Officeworks or most mobile phone stores.

Drop off at: Community Recycling Centre and Chemical CleanOut events. 

2. Household cleaning products

Chemical CleanOut events will take any hazardous household chemical products off your hands for free, including:

• Hobby chemicals e.g photography chemicals
• Solvents and household cleaners
• Floor care products
• Ammonia-based cleaners
• Pool cleaners
• Garden chemicals and poisons

These products can cause harm to human health and the environment so they require special treatment and disposal.

Drop off at: Chemical CleanOut events only.

3. Smoke detectors

Did you know you have to check you smoke detector annually and replace it at least every 10 years?

Depending on whether or not your alarms have a used-by-date printed on them — and most do — the time to recycle may be much sooner than you think.

When it comes time, take your smoke alarms to a Community Recycling Centre for recycling along with any batteries too!

Drop off at: Community Recycling Centre and Chemical CleanOut events

4. Paint

If you have unused paint sitting in your garage from a job you did 10 years ago, you’re not alone!

Old paint can be reused if dropped off a Community Recycling Centre. Picture: Pexels

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Most of us think we’ll use house paints again at some point, whether that be for a touch-up or other DIY project. The greater likelihood is that they’ll sit in storage until you eventually move and decide it’s time to get rid of them.

Drop off at: Community Recycling Centre and Chemical CleanOut events

5. Gas bottles

Gas bottles come with a range of protocols for home safety from optimal storage to transportation. Disposal is no different.

Fortunately, when your gas bottle can no longer be part of the Swap n’ Go system, or is broken or damaged, they can be recycled via a Community Recycling Centre or Chemical CleanOut event.

Drop off at: Community Recycling Centre and Chemical CleanOut events

6. Light globes

Fluorescent light globes and tubes contain mercury. Therefore, they require special disposal..

The glass, plastic, ceramic and metal from fluorescent light bulbs can be reused and recycled. Picture: Pexels

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When you drop off your fluro lights at a Community Recycling Centre, they will be processed to maximise recycling.

Recyclers crush the tubes to separate the phosphor powder from the glass. The powder is then fed through receiving containers, where it is filtered to capture fugitive mercury emissions. The mercury is then separated by distillation and sold for a range of industrial uses. The metals are also recycled.

Drop off at: Community Recycling Centre and Chemical CleanOut events

7. Oils and fuels

Like the other potentially hazardous and highly flammable chemicals on this list, the only way to dispose of motor oil is by taking it to a designated safe recycling point.

From here, it will likely be recycled as lubricant or disposed of safely.

Drop off oils at: Community Recycling Centre and Chemical CleanOut events

Drop off fuels at: Chemical CleanOut events only

8. Pesticides and poisons

Finally, pesticides, weed killers and other poisonous household chemicals are accepted at Chemical CleanOut events.

These materials can be nasty. Make sure there aren’t any leaks and prevent spills by packing the containers securely in the boot of your car. If you need to, double wrap any containers to prevent potential spills.

Drop off at: Chemical CleanOut events only