Recycling other items

You can recycle more than the contents of your yellow lidded bin. Here's how.

Soft plastics

PLEASE NOTE: As per recent media awareness, REDcycle has temporarily paused its soft plastics collection program from 9 November 2022.

Please dispose of your soft plastics in landfill, as there will be no recovery from Coles and Woolworths stores at this time.

REDcycle and their partners are committed to having the program back up and running as soon as possible.

Food waste. Did you know?

Our last waste audit showed that 46% of the material in our garbage bin was food waste!

• Review your pantry and fridge and plan your shop
• Make the most of what's left in your fridge and pantry, and check out Love Food Hate Waste

We're working on a new rebate program for compost bins and worm farms - watch this space! 

Mobile phones

More than 90% of the resources in mobile phones can be used to make new products. Never throw them in the bin as they contain harmful substances that damage the environment.

MobileMuster is a company funded by the major phone companies to help you recycle your old phone.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Transfer files from your phone 
2. Take your phone to one of the following:
   • Lerderderg Library sorting station
   • Your local Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, or Officeworks store, or
   • Recycle from home by ordering a free mailing label from MobileMuster 

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions please recycle from home. You can contact stores directly should they still be offering a limited service.

Batteries

Many batteries contain toxic substances that can cause harm to people and the environment. Never put batteries in your recycling or garbage bin.

Lithium-ion batteries from laptops, mobile phones, power tools, and cameras can produce sparks or start a fire in the trucks or recycling facility.

Check out PlanetArk to learn more about recycling batteries.

Where to recycle batteries:

• Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You will locate your nearest drop-off point
• Select Officeworks, Bunnings, and Aldi stores offer battery drop-off points
• Head to the Lerderderg Library sorting station
• Take old car batteries to your local transfer station, True Value hardware store, or First National Real Estate on Inglis Street, Ballan

What about other e-waste? 

'E-waste' refers to any unwanted item with a powercord or battery. E-waste is growing up to three times faster than any other waste. 

Under new Victorian Government legislation, electronic waste (e-waste) is banned from landfill as of 1 July 2019. This means e-waste is no longer be accepted in any kerbside bin.

E-waste items contain valuable materials such as gold, silver, and copper, which can be recovered and reused. 

Where to recycle e-waste:

• Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You can help you locate your nearest e-waste drop-off point
• Participating Officeworks stores will accept up to 5 e-waste items for recycling 
• Donate Direct (if items are in working order)
• Televisions and computers: National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
• Mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, chargers, and accessories: Mobile Muster or PhoneCycle

Head to our e-waste page to find out more and where your closest drop-off point is.