Green Schemes: Shops That Take Your Recycling for Free
Several Australian retailers are doing their bit for the environment by recycling your home goods – here's where to go
Global Recycling Day is held on 18 March each year – a worldwide initiative that recognises the importance of recycling and reducing waste in securing our planet’s future. And while you might pat yourself on the back each week for filling up and putting out the recycling bins, chances are there will be the odd tricky household item you don’t know what to do with and might be tempted to throw in the rubbish. But did you know that multiple big-name retailers around the country will help you recycle those tricky items – from mattresses and batteries to light globes – and often for free? Here are the stores you need to know about.
Bunnings
Not sure what to do with those half-used paint tins cluttering your garage or shed? Why not drop them off at Bunnings, which will recycle them for free.
You can part with unwanted paint at selected Bunnings’ one-day collection events (check the Bunnings website for event dates). Or, take them to one of the 114 permanent Paintback collection sites across Australia (go to Paintback’s website or Facebook page to find locations near you).
A few Bunnings stores in Victoria will take your old batteries too – look for the Batteryback recycling bins in select stores.
The Power of Paint: How to Turn Trash Into Treasure
Not sure what to do with those half-used paint tins cluttering your garage or shed? Why not drop them off at Bunnings, which will recycle them for free.
You can part with unwanted paint at selected Bunnings’ one-day collection events (check the Bunnings website for event dates). Or, take them to one of the 114 permanent Paintback collection sites across Australia (go to Paintback’s website or Facebook page to find locations near you).
A few Bunnings stores in Victoria will take your old batteries too – look for the Batteryback recycling bins in select stores.
The Power of Paint: How to Turn Trash Into Treasure
Woolworths and Coles
Doing their bit for the environment doesn’t stop at embracing plastic bag-free shopping; both of these supermarkets are now helping shoppers recycle their soft plastics, too.
Drop off any soft plastics you can’t recycle at home (including clean food wrapping such as cling film) in the specially marked bins outside Woolworths and Coles stores.
At Woolies, your soft plastics are then recycled by their partners’ REDcycle (Coles partners with them, too) and Replas, and made into benches, bollards and other items that are then used in Woolworths stores and carparks.
Also good to know, every time you buy a 99-cent Bag for Good shopping bag at Woolworths, the money will go towards their Junior Landcare Grants Program that assists with environmental and educational projects. You might also find it helpful to know that Woolies will replace your damaged Bag for Good for free, no matter when you bought it.
Doing their bit for the environment doesn’t stop at embracing plastic bag-free shopping; both of these supermarkets are now helping shoppers recycle their soft plastics, too.
Drop off any soft plastics you can’t recycle at home (including clean food wrapping such as cling film) in the specially marked bins outside Woolworths and Coles stores.
At Woolies, your soft plastics are then recycled by their partners’ REDcycle (Coles partners with them, too) and Replas, and made into benches, bollards and other items that are then used in Woolworths stores and carparks.
Also good to know, every time you buy a 99-cent Bag for Good shopping bag at Woolworths, the money will go towards their Junior Landcare Grants Program that assists with environmental and educational projects. You might also find it helpful to know that Woolies will replace your damaged Bag for Good for free, no matter when you bought it.
Biome
It’s no secret that eco-retailer Biome sells all sorts of gorgeous skincare and fashion products. What’s less known is that they will recycle many of those tricky everyday items homeowners might be tempted to toss in the rubbish bin. The extensive list of items Biome accepts includes:
All cosmetics and beauty packaging must be thoroughly cleaned and opened before being handed in for recycling. Pop your clean recyclables in the TerraCycle bins in select Biome stores or hand them to sales staff at any Biome shop.
Alternatively, you can post items for recycling to Biome, 51 Douglas Street, Milton, Queensland 4064. Your items will be sent to TerraCycle, which will clean and melt them into hard plastic that is then remoulded and made into new recycled products.
It’s no secret that eco-retailer Biome sells all sorts of gorgeous skincare and fashion products. What’s less known is that they will recycle many of those tricky everyday items homeowners might be tempted to toss in the rubbish bin. The extensive list of items Biome accepts includes:
- Cosmetics packaging.
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes (no electronic toothbrushes).
- Wine corks.
- Pens and markers.
- CDs, Blu-ray discs, cassette tapes, memory sticks and external hard drives.
- Shampoo bottles, hair spray, hair gel tubes, shaving foam canisters, soap dispensers and makeup containers (they must be opened and cleaned out thoroughly).
- Packaging from any product purchased at Biome, including cardboard and soft and hard plastics.
- Biome Paddington and Balmoral stores in Queensland will also take coat hangers in good condition.
All cosmetics and beauty packaging must be thoroughly cleaned and opened before being handed in for recycling. Pop your clean recyclables in the TerraCycle bins in select Biome stores or hand them to sales staff at any Biome shop.
Alternatively, you can post items for recycling to Biome, 51 Douglas Street, Milton, Queensland 4064. Your items will be sent to TerraCycle, which will clean and melt them into hard plastic that is then remoulded and made into new recycled products.
Aldi
Aldi stores nationwide will recycle your rechargeable and non-rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries for free, whether you bought them at Aldi or not. Just place your used batteries in the battery-recycling container at the front of Aldi stores.
Since 2013, Aldi has diverted more than 356 tonnes of battery waste destined for landfill. Batteries are sent to Aldi’s recycling partner in Melbourne and converted into feedstock for fertiliser. The process involves separating the metal from the battery using magnetism. What’s mostly left is described as ‘black mass’, which contains zinc and manganese. Both zinc and manganese are perfect for horticulture, with many crop soils in Australia lacking these vital nutrients. This means your old batteries could end up helping flowers grow.
Read more stories on sustainability here
Aldi stores nationwide will recycle your rechargeable and non-rechargeable AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries for free, whether you bought them at Aldi or not. Just place your used batteries in the battery-recycling container at the front of Aldi stores.
Since 2013, Aldi has diverted more than 356 tonnes of battery waste destined for landfill. Batteries are sent to Aldi’s recycling partner in Melbourne and converted into feedstock for fertiliser. The process involves separating the metal from the battery using magnetism. What’s mostly left is described as ‘black mass’, which contains zinc and manganese. Both zinc and manganese are perfect for horticulture, with many crop soils in Australia lacking these vital nutrients. This means your old batteries could end up helping flowers grow.
Read more stories on sustainability here
Zara
Forget fast fashion; Spanish fashion supremo Zara has started running a sustainability-collection program that aims to extend the lifespan of your clothes.
Simply take any clothes in good condition that you no longer wear to a participating Zara store and drop them into the labelled containers (check the Zara website to find out which stores near you are participating). Your old clothes will then be sorted and passed on to people in need.
7 Everyday Steps to an Environmentally Friendly Home
Forget fast fashion; Spanish fashion supremo Zara has started running a sustainability-collection program that aims to extend the lifespan of your clothes.
Simply take any clothes in good condition that you no longer wear to a participating Zara store and drop them into the labelled containers (check the Zara website to find out which stores near you are participating). Your old clothes will then be sorted and passed on to people in need.
7 Everyday Steps to an Environmentally Friendly Home
Tell us
Are there any other in-store recycling tips you know of? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
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Looking for more eco services? Find a local contractor here who can help with environmental restoration
Are there any other in-store recycling tips you know of? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Looking for more eco services? Find a local contractor here who can help with environmental restoration
The Swedish homewares giant will take your old batteries, cardboard and light globes and recycle them for free. Simply drop them off at specially marked recycling stations near your local store’s exit.
Ikea can recycle your old mattresses, too. For $30 they will collect your old mattress when delivering your new Ikea one (the offer is only valid for in-store purchases). Alternatively, head to Soft Landing’s website, a mattress-recycling and employment initiative, to book an online collection.
In a nationwide first, Ikea’s Tempe store in NSW now also offers a furniture take-back service to encourage customers to recycle unwanted goods and help their local community. Just return the Ikea goods you no longer want to the Tempe store (they need to be in good condition). Fill in a submission form and, if eligible, you’ll receive an Ikea voucher to the value indicated by Ikea.
You can even learn how to breathe new life into your old pieces at free in-store upcycling workshops.