Keep these items out of your bins

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It might seem like a small thing to sort your waste and recycling properly, but it makes a big impact when it comes to hazardous materials.

There are common items found in your home that cannot be put into any of your household bins. While they may be safe to use, they cannot be processed through regular household rubbish and recycling services. These include:

  • aerosols
  • batteries
  • automotive oil
  • chemicals and paint
  • e-waste (that’s anything with a cord, plug or battery)
  • rubble and building materials, like bricks
  • gas bottles and CO2 cannisters

These items are all banned from your bins. Some of them contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the ground and harm our environment. Others can start fires in trucks and at sorting facilities. Recycling facilities cannot safely deal with these hazardous materials, so you must dispose of them correctly.  Some of these items are accepted free of charge at Council’s drop-off points.

E-waste: If it’s still working and in good condition, consider donating electronics to your local op shop. Best to check first if they want the item. Broken or unwanted e-waste can be dropped off for FREE at the Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea transfer stations. See what’s accepted as e-waste

Rubble and building materials: Waste from construction and demolition should be taken to Anglesea landfill. Fees will apply.

Gas bottles and CO2 canisters: Take gas bottles to a bottle swap location at a petrol station or large hardware retailer to be degassed and reused, or drop them off free of charge at the Anglesea Transfer Station. CO2 cannisters should be taken to a Detox your Home event for free drop-off.

Batteries: Recycle small handheld batteries for free at drop-off locations across the Shire. Batteries from cars, boats and power tools are accepted for free at Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea transfer stations. Limits apply.

Aerosols: Only empty aerosol cans can go in your recycling bin (yellow lid). Full or half-empty aerosols should be taken to a Detox your Home event for free drop-off.

Chemicals and paint: Take unwanted household chemicals to a free Detox your Home event. Tins of paint can be dropped off for free at a Paintback collection site in Geelong or Drysdale. 

By disposing of hazardous materials properly, we keep everyone safe and help protect our environment. It also means your recycling is less likely to be contaminated, so more of it can be turned into new products.

Keeping hazardous materials out of your household bins make a big impact on Victoria’s sustainable future.

Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/dropoff to find out how to dispose of other household items that are not accepted in your kerbside bins.

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