Help with reducing waste

Recycling is better than sending everything to landfill, however it still consumes large amounts of energy.

When it comes to helping the environment, our first thought should be around re-using and re-purposing waste materials.

Recycling and disposal should actually be our last option, not our first.

How can we implement better re-use at home?

Though many of these items can be placed in yellow lid recycling bins, if we learn to re-use materials, they won’t need to be placed in a bin at all.

Glass jars, containers, cans

• Glass jars and old Milo/coffee tins can make great containers for those extra pantry items we store.
• Desk organisers (home, work or school)
• Bathroom containers

Plastic soft drink bottles, take-away containers

• Self-watering pot plant holders
• Milk bottle, dust pan (replacement for dust pan and brush)
• Containers into bird feeders
• Pet food containers

Paper and cardboard

• Use boxes in laundry, garage or garden for storage
• Handmade cards, child's play toys and craft
• Homemade coasters
• Pet toys (scratch pads)

Linen, clothes, towels, bedding

Donate to charity or take to Council Transfer Stations. If damaged, consider the following:

• Car, house cleaning cloths
• Braided rugs
• Reusable dusters

Plastic bags

• Reuse previously purchased plastic bags at the shops
• Wash, dry cereal box inserts to wrap sandwiches
• Reuse to wrap pet waste
• Liners for bins

Bathroom Items

• Save old toothbrushes for those difficult to reach scrubbing jobs around the home
• Old toothpaste tubes can be repurposed as a funnel by cutting off the bottom (or for a frosting tool for cakes and treats)
• Refill old deodorant bottles with homemade deodorant recipes

Broken plates/dishes

• Create tile collages on outdoor tables, pots, paths or garden edging (and borders)
• Old mugs can be used as pot plants

Old furniture

Donate to charity or take to Council Transfer Stations. If damaged/torn consider the following

• Repair, refinish and redesign rather than dispose (or break down for disposal)
• Reuse wood for new projects
• Hang drawers on walls to make shelves

What do I do with greenwaste, electronic waste, hazardous waste or asbestos?

Visit our Waste & Recycling Facilities page for further information.