A-Z disposal guide

Household batteries

These CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

Batteries, especially lithium-ion and button batteries, can cause fires and harm the environment if disposed of in the waste or recycling bins.

These include batteries from electrical equipment, toys, laptops, power tools and hearing aids.

Drop off eligible household batteries for free. Collection points include

• Supermarkets – ALDI, Coles, Drakes, Foodland, IGA, Woolworths
• Hardware stores – Bunnings, Mitre 10, Tool Kit Depot, Total Tools
• Other - Battery World, Big W, Good Guys and select City of Onkaparinga offices and libraries.

Use the B-cycle website to find the closest drop-off point near you.

Commercial quantities

Businesses can order a recycling bucket for your office or worksite (fees may/may not apply under the national Battery Stewardship Scheme).

• Batteries 4 Planet Ark Recycling Buckets
• EcoCycle Recycling Buckets

Search online for other commercial collection services available.

Mobile phone batteries

These CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

Mobile phones, their batteries and accessories can be recycled for FREE.

• drop them off at a MobileMuster collection point
• drop them in a Woolworths / EcoBatt battery recycling bin
• post them in using a free recycling satchel from Australia Post
• download a free reply-paid label from the MobileMuster website
• check if your local school/charity is collecting old phones as a fundraiser.

Before you recycle, please delete all personal information from the phone and remove the SIM card.

Lithium-ion batteries

These CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

These include batteries contained in phones, tablets, power banks, computers, toys, appliances and tools, as well as mobility equipment such as electric bikes and scooters.

• If you can easily take out the lithium battery by hand, cover the terminals with non-conductive tape like clear sticky tape. You can then take these taped batteries to Household Battery drop-off points at Aldi, Bunnings, Coles, IGA, Foodland, and Woolworths.
• If the battery is difficult to remove or built into the product, don’t try to take it out. Instead, recycle the whole item as e-waste. Check your nearest e-waste drop-off location.
• E-bike and e-scooter batteries less than 5kg and energy storage batteries can be dropped off at select locations only. Use the B-cycle website to find the closest drop-off point near you.
• E-cigarettes and vapes also have lithium batteries and a heating part, which can easily catch fire in kerbside bins. These should be recycled as e-waste item. 

Lead acid batteries

These CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

These include batteries from cars, motorbikes & other vehicles, NBN and power/lighting backup systems.

All used sealed lead-acid batteries are classified as hazardous waste and must be recycled by a specialist battery recycler.

• Contact a scrap metal recycler.
  Most will pay a few dollars for lead-acid batteries

OR

• Supercheap Auto accept lead-acid car batteries for a free lead acid battery recycling service.
  Note – no lithium batteries accepted

Emergency & Exit Lighting batteries

These CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

Most systems in Australia    use Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) or  Sealed Lead Acid Batteries. All contain hazardous materials and must be recycled by a specialist battery recycler.

• Find your nearest ExitCycle drop off point for Exit Lighting batteries.

What to do if a battery catches fire

If a battery or device starts to smoke or catch fire, follow these steps:

• Get Everyone Out
  • Evacuate the area immediately. If it’s safe, close doors to slow the fire's spread, and make sure no one goes back inside.
    Battery smoke and fumes are very dangerous and shouldn’t be breathed in.
• Call Emergency Services
  • Dial Triple Zero (000) and wait in a safe place until Emergency Services arrive.
• Seek Medical Help if Exposed

If anyone has been exposed to spilled battery chemicals, smoke, or flames, get medical help right away.
For burns, rinse with cool running water for 20 minutes.

Burns larger than a 20-cent piece need emergency care, so call Triple Zero (000) and follow the operator’s advice.

Cigarette butts, cigars, ash

 Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin.

Vapes, e-cigarettes

These CANNOT go in your household bins or to landfill.
They require batteries so are classified as e-waste.

Single use vapes have embedded batteries that cannot be removed.

Most refillable vapes have an easily removable battery which can be recycled separately. Please remove the battery and recycle with other household batteries.

Drop-off single-use and re-usable vapes at an Unplug N’Drop hub for free e-waste recycling.

As these contain batteries, they are classified as e-waste.

e-waste items CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

If it's in working condition consider giving it away, swapping or selling it.

OR

Drop-off at an Unplug N’Drop hub for free e-waste recycling

Make sure to remove the battery before recycling – see Batteries for disposal locations.

If it's in reasonable condition consider giving it away, swapping or selling it.

OR

Drop off plastic, metal or plush toys in the Toys for Joy chest at Big W Marion.
Restrictions apply - visit Big W’s Toys for Joy for more information.

Plastic 

 Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin.

Remove any batteries for appropriate disposal.

Large plastic toys – book a hard waste collection.

Metal

Contact a scrap metal recycler.

Remove any batteries for appropriate disposal.

Plush / soft

  Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin.

OR

Book a hard waste collection.

Wooden

   Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin.

OR

Book a hard waste collection.

Aerosol cans- empty

Including empty aerosol paint cans.
Please make sure container is empty & remove the plastic lid.

 Empty aerosol cans - put in the yellow/recycling bin.

Aerosol cans - NOT empty

These CANNOT go in your household bins or to landfill.

Household chemicals and paints can be dangerous if they are not stored or disposed of safely and also please be aware that Hazardous Wastes cannot be disposed of in the general waste bin as they are harmful to human health and the environment.

Need to get rid of unwanted paint tins, batteries, chemicals, and other hazardous household waste for FREE? You'll be pleased to know that there are now 2 permanent drop off sites open 7 days a week.

Plympton

Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre
181 Morphett Road, North Plympton 

Open hours: Monday to Friday 7am–4pm, Saturday 8am–3pm, Sunday 10am–3pm

Heathfield

Heathfield Resource Recovery Centre
32 Scott Creek Road, Heathfield

Open hours: Monday to Friday 7.30am–4pm, weekends 9am–4pm.

What do they accept?

Hazardous waste products are banned from landfill and require special disposal processing. These include:

• garden chemicals – pesticides,herbicides and fungicides
• insect repellents and rat poison
• cleaners – oven cleaner, toilet cleaner, bleach, ammonia and furniture polish
• automotive products – fuel, oils, lubricants and degreasers
• home improvement products – paints*, thinners and adhesives, batteries, and pool chlorine.

Please note: NO decanting allowed on site. Use original containers where possible.

*Paint can also be dropped off at Hackham Recyclers for free as part of the national Paintback program.

For more information visit www.greenindustries.sa.gov.au/hazwaste

View our online Recycling & Disposal Guide for safe disposal of unwanted items.

 Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin*

Remove battery first, for appropriate disposal.
Please take ALL household batteries to a local recycling drop-off point.

*Approved by the Environmental Protection Authority (SA).

Donate old, unwanted hearing aids. They will be professionally cleaned and serviced. Once ready, your Hearing Aids will be professionally fitted to a person in need.

In 3 easy steps:

1. Remove batteries
2. Securely package your hearing aids
3. Mail them to:

Lions Australia
Reply Paid 3021
Lions Recycle for Sight
PO Box 3021
CLONTARF  MDC  4019

OR

Soundfair
Suite 1, Level 2
517 St Kilda Road
Melbourne
VIC 3004

OR

Drop them in to Hearing Sense clinics in Unley, Norwood or Salisbury for their programs supporting deaf children in Kenya and Nepal.

Digital (stick)

These CANNOT go in your household bins or to landfill. They require batteries so are classified as e-waste:

• drop-off at an Unplug N’Drop hub for free e-waste recycling
• contact a scrap metal merchant.

Food / Meat (Bimetal)

Contact a scrap metal recycler.

Food (pop-up)

Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin.

Liquid crystal / strip / magnetic

These are colour-based thermometers and used for a variety of applications e.g. for medical, aquariums, homebrewing, etc.

Put it in the red/waste to landfill bin.

Mercury

IMPORTANT - Mercury is a dense poisonous metal. Please handle this type of thermometer with great care.

Dispose of as hazardous waste. See the Mercury entry for disposal details.

Landline

E-waste includes, but is not limited to: TVs, kitchen appliances, gaming consoles, calculators, cameras, hair dryers/straighteners, hearing aids,  irons, computers,  DVD players, radios, speakers, lamps, shredders, compressors, powerboards / double adaptors / extension leads etc.

Electrical items CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.

If it's in working condition consider giving it away, swapping or selling it.

OR

• drop-off at an Unplug N’Drop hub for free e-waste recycling

• Contact a scrap metal recycler.

Mobiles

These CANNOT go into your household bins or to landfill.  

Mobile phones, batteries and accessories can be recycled for FREE.

• drop them off at a MobileMuster collection point
• drop them off at an EcoBatt battery recycling bin
• post them in using a free recycling satchel from Australia Post
• download a free reply paid label from the MobileMuster website
• check if your local school/charity is collecting old phones as a fundraiser.

OR

Drop them off at:

• any of our Customer Relations offices
• Aldinga, Hub, Seaford, Willunga or Woodcroft libraries
• Aberfoyle Community Centre
• Coromandel Community Centre
• Reynella Neighbourhood Centre
• Wakefield House Positive Ageing Centre.

Before you recycle, please delete all personal information from the phone and remove the SIM card.

If good condition, give away or sell.

OR

Contact a scrap metal recycler.

Remove battery and dispose of safely.

If in good condition, consider giving it away, donating or selling it.

OR

Return to Retailers: Many clothing retailers accept unwanted, damaged or unwearable clothes and recycle them for repurposing.

• Dejcuba accepts denim (any brand) for recycling – drop off in store or purchase a postage satchel through their website.
• H&M has a free recycling program in select stores for all kinds of clothing and textiles in any condition.
• RCYCL has reuse and recycling options – buy a mail bag, pack and send off unwanted or unwearable clothing (in compostable bags).
• Textile Recyclers Australia has a home collection service for clean clothing and textiles and an underwear mail bag service, for a fee.
• Underwear for Humanity has a recycling program for its customers for underwear and bras. They will recycle other brands if you purchase their underwear first.
• UNIQLO – drop off UNIQLO and GU clothing items in the RE.UNIQLO box in-store.
• UPPAREL has a home collection service that accepts clothing (in any condition), shoes, linen, and other textiles for a fee. All items are reused, repurposed, or recycled in Australia.
• Zara – drop-off clothing, footwear and accessories you no longer use in the recycling container in-store

OR

Use for rags.

OR

Put it in red/waste to landfill bin.

Uniforms

Work Uniforms:

• Total Uniform Solutions – makes uniforms designed to be taken apart and recycled and offer large-scale recycling!
• Loop Upcycling – upcycles workwear and supports local communities, including refugees and survivors of domestic abuse.

• Textile Recycling Australia – turns old uniforms into yarn through industrial recycling. They offer a has a home collection service for clean underwear, for a fee.

School Uniforms

• Uniform Exchange – a free platform where families can buy, sell or donate second-hand school uniforms across Australia.
• Worn Up – collects large volumes of school uniforms and turns them into useful products like desks for students.

OR

Use for rags.

OR

 Put it in red/waste to landfill bin.

If in good condition, consider giving it away, donating or selling it.

The RSPCA South Australia accepts blankets for bedding.

OR

Return to Retailers: Many clothing retailers accept unwanted, damaged or unusable fabrics and linens and recycle them for repurposing

• UPPAREL has a home collection service that accepts clothing (in any condition), shoes, linen, and other textiles for a fee. All items are reused, repurposed, or recycled in Australia.
• Textile Recyclers Australia has a home collection service for clean clothing and textiles and an underwear mail bag service, for a fee.
• Sheridan accepts clean household linens - of any brand - made from 100% cotton, 100% polyester, or cotton-polyester blends

OR

Use for rags.

OR

 Put it in red/waste to landfill bin.

See also: Clothing/uniforms; Luggage/bags; Shoes

Including, but not limited to: tables, chairs, desks, cupboards, lounges/couches/sofas, filing cabinets, cots, ottomans, drawers, outdoor furniture. 

If it's in reasonable condition consider giving it away, swapping or selling it.

OR

• contact a salvage yard
• contact a scrap metal recycler (metal)
• book a hard waste collection (other).
  • All glass and mirrors must be removed. 
  • Must be able to be handled by 2 people.
  • If an item is wider or higher than 1.5 metres, we are unable to collect it. This is because the opening at the rear of our collection compactor truck is only 1.5 meters wide, and larger items cannot be accommodated.

Please note: 3-seater lounges are accepted however they must be able to be lifted by 2 people and may comprise 2 hard waste bookings, due to their size.

Electric recliners

Contact a furniture removal service. 

OR

If possible, remove the electrical component and

• book a hard waste collection for the chair
• drop the electric motor off for FREE recycling at an Unplug N'Drop hub or a scrap metal recycler.

This CANNOT go in your household bins or to landfill.

Mercury is a highly toxic silver liquid metal that ‘shatters' into tiny balls, so take great care when cleaning it up.

The poisonous vapour is the main threat. Mercury can become quite a potent neurotoxin which affects human and animal health.
When products containing dangerous amounts go to landfill, they can easily contaminate the groundwater and release toxic compound.

In the home, mercury may typically be found in the following:

• hand-held thermometers (not generally available anymore)
• ambient outside temperature thermometers
• compact fluorescent lamps (CFL or fluoro light globe)
• desk mounted sphygmomanometers (used to monitor blood pressure)
• barometers.

If containing mercury, you can take these items to a FREE hazardous waste drop-off at:

Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre
181 Morphett Road
North Plympton
Ph: 08 8295 5077

Open: Monday to Friday 7am–4pm, Saturday 8am–3pm, Sunday 10am–3pm.

OR

Heathfield Resource Recovery Centre
32 Scott Creek Road
Heathfield
Ph: 08 8339 4323

Open: Monday to Friday 7.30am–4pm, weekends 9am–4pm.

In the case that you have a mercury spill:

If the spill is major, do not clean it by yourself. Contact the Fire Department – call 000.

But if it is something that can easily be handled alone, then do the following steps:

1. People and animals should leave the area immediately, staying clear ideally for a day whilst ventilating the area in the process.
2. Wear proper protection such as heavy-duty gloves and boots to pick up glass shards. Afterwards, wrap them properly in a paper towel whilst also sealing the paper towel afterwards in a zip-lock bag.
3. Find the mercury content (dim the area to more easily locate). Then you can apply sulphur powder (available at pharmacies) and wait for 30 minutes to neutralise the mercury. Make sure the mercury residue is gone and collect by brushing.
4. Put the mercury content in a plastic bag, along with your gloves and any collection materials used and throw it into your household waste bin
5. if the mercury has spilt onto carpet, clothing or upholstery, the contaminated part needs to be removed and disposed of.

Mercury that cannot be stabilised by sulphur powder or is stored in a jar is a hazardous waste and can only be disposed at a Hazardous Waste site.

When cleaning up mercury spills

• Do not use the vacuum cleaner or a broom to sweep up the mercury. Both of these can break the mercury into smaller beads and may spread the spill even further. The heat from the vacuum motor may also cause the mercury to volatise (evaporate into fumes), which will further spread traces of mercury around your home.
• Do not machine wash clothing that may have absorbed mercury with the normal laundry. Throw away contaminated clothing if possible, or wash clothing separately in a bucket.
• Do not pour mercury directly down the sink.

If in good condition, consider giving away, donating or selling them.

OR

Return to Retailers: Many clothing retailers accept unwanted, damaged or unusable fabrics and linens and recycle them for repurposing

• Totally Workwear have a take-back recycling program for workboots. Customers can recycle their old workboots at participating stores if they purchase a new pair of shoes.
• TreadLightly have collection boxes at participating stores to give sports and active lifestyle shoes a new life as mats and flooring for retail stores, gyms and playgrounds.
• UPPAREL has a home collection service that accepts clothing (in any condition), shoes, linen, and other textiles for a fee. All items are reused, repurposed, or recycled in Australia.
• Zara – drop-off clothing, shoes and accessories you no longer use in the recycling container in-store

OR

Put them in the red/waste to landfill bin.