You might be wondering what household items you can recycle. Well, you will be surprised to know that most of them are recyclable. This is good news because you are incorporating the “reduce, reuse and recycle” movement.
You don’t even realise you adopt this value in your daily life. If you are keen to continue this lifestyle to create a more sustainable environment for future generations, household rubbish is the best place to start. Much of the rubbish accumulated on a daily basis, if not most of it, is recyclable.
Here are some of the common household items you can recycle.
1. Plastic Appliances
The most common type of rubbish found by Melbourne residentials is made of plastic. Many of them are recyclable. From plastic bags, water bottles, plastic utensils, and many others.
Additionally, plastic bags can be reused as bin liners for smaller trash cans. All of these should be put in a separate bin so it is easier to organise.
2. Newspapers, Mail, and Books
Even though reading hardcopy has become less common in our digital world, it is still a source of waste for many. Luckily, you can recycle newspapers, mail and books as they are made of paper.
For books that are in a good condition, there is no need to throw them away. If they are still readable, our advice is to donate them to a local community centre or library.
3. Old Electronics: TV, LCD, Smartphone, Laptop and Printer
Old electronics should be separated from other household rubbish. Things like TVs, LCDs, smartphones, laptops, and printers are some of the household electronics that are recyclable.
We also call them e-waste. They contain some heavy metals and chemicals in their components and require particular treatment before recycling them.
Fortunately, there are a number of recycling centres in Melbourne that accept old electronics to be recycled. You need to do a little research and contact them.
You might also be interested to read our Tips to Dispose and Recycle E-Waste.
4. Footwear: Shoes and Sandals
Footwear like shoes and sandals are commonly made of fabric and rubber; which are also recyclable materials. Don’t tell me you don’t have old or damaged shoes that have been sitting for years on your shelf.
So why not put them in the recycling bin and send them to the recycling centre? If some of your old shoes are still wearable and reusable, consider donating them to the needy at the local community centre.
5. Old Clothing and Bedding
Donating is the best way to get rid of your old clothing and bedding. Because there’s a high chance that most of them are still in good condition.
You can also recycle them into a new pair of clothes. Another idea is to reuse them as floor mats, or as a stylish room decoration.
6. Cardboard Boxes
You can recycle cardboard boxes of any type and size. They are made from a similar material to paper.
Organise all of your cardboard boxes by piling them up and putting them nicely in the front yard. Then call professional residential rubbish removal in Melbourne like us – 1Call Rubbish Removal.
We are ready to pick them up and send them to the recycling centre.
Additionally, our team can do all of the rubbish removal projects from start to finish diligently. So that you won’t need to waste your precious time doing it.
7. House Decorations
Most of the decorations over the holidays are made from materials like paper and plastic. Decoration items like garlands and wrapping paper can be recycled.
Lots of houses use tons of decoration items in the holiday season every year. Imagine the quantity of rubbish produced if they have to be thrown away.
While it’s a good idea to send them to be recycled, you can always reuse them on another occasion.
Store them nicely and neatly so that they won’t be damaged by anything like heat or moisture.
8. Printer Cartridges
Many home-use printers still use ink cartridges rather than liquid ink.
While these cartridges cannot be recycled, they can still be reused by refilling them.
You can send them to office supply stores that can refill the cartridges at a discounted price.
9. Aluminium Cans
Aluminium cans are one of the most commonly recycled household items. Aluminium is a lightweight and durable metal that is used in a variety of products, including beverage cans.
One of the benefits of recycling aluminium is that it can be recycled indefinitely without losing any quality. This means that an aluminium can that is recycled today could be turned into a new can or another aluminium product in the future.
Recycling aluminium cans also helps to conserve energy. It takes much less energy to recycle aluminium than it does to manufacture new products. This means that recycling aluminium can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
10. Glass Bottles and Jars
Glass can also be recycled indefinitely, as it can be melted down and turned into new containers without losing any quality. Glass is a durable and versatile material that is used in a variety of products, including containers for food and beverages.
When glass bottles and jars are recycled, they are collected and taken to a recycling facility where they are sorted by colour and crushed into small pieces, known as cullet.
The cullet is then melted down and formed into new glass products, such as new bottles and jars.
11. Batteries
Many types of batteries can be recycled, including lead-acid car batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Recycling batteries helps to conserve resources, reduce waste, and prevent toxic materials from entering the environment.
Many retailers and manufacturers offer battery recycling programs, and there are also specialized recycling facilities that accept batteries for recycling.
It’s important to recycle batteries rather than dispose of them in the trash, as this can help to reduce the environmental impacts of battery production and use.
12. Light Bulbs
You can recycle both fluorescent and LED light bulbs. Although they may need to be taken to a specialty recycling facility.
When fluorescent light bulbs are recycled, the mercury and other hazardous materials are extracted and safely disposed of, while the glass and other materials are melted down and used to make new light bulbs or other products.
LED light bulbs contain small amounts of rare earth elements. They are valuable resources that can be recovered and used to make new LED light bulbs or other products.
Take a moment to look around and ask yourself what household items you can recycle at home. And then start looking for any old and unused items that can be recycled based on the information above. This way you will be able to organise them easily in a recycling bin.
Go Green with 1Call’s Household Recycling – Contact Us Now!
Looking for reliable and affordable rubbish removal in Melbourne? Look no further than 1Call Rubbish Removal! We specialise in removing all types of waste, including household junk, garden waste, construction debris, and more.
Our team of professionals will arrive at your property on time, load up your rubbish, and ensure that it’s disposed of properly and responsibly. Whether you have a small pile of rubbish or a large amount of waste, we have the equipment and expertise to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Contact us now to schedule your rubbish removal service and enjoy a cleaner and more clutter-free space!