Electrical appliances - never throw them in the bin

Everything deserves a second chance!

If your unwanted items are in good condition, pass them onto someone who can make good use of them.

• Electrical appliances that still work can be taken to some charity shops (including the Salvos) that have appliances tested and tagged before they sell them. Check with the charity first before donating.
• Give them away to friends, or their kids who are leaving home for the first time.
• Offer the items for free on Buy Nothing or Gumtree. Some charities will also take them to pass directly onto those in need. This includes charities such as SOS (Starting Over Support), which provides furniture and household items to people who have escaped crisis situations and are setting up a new home and life. sos@startingover.org.au

If it’s beyond repair

If the appliance no longer works, it can be collected through your local government's Bulk Waste Service. Please refer to information provided by your local government or visit their website to check what they will and won’t collect.

There are also recycling business that will take old electrical appliances. They are then dismantled, and the different components are sorted. Many of the materials, including glass, copper, plastics, metals and precious metals, are recovered for further processing and eventual use in the manufacture of new products.

Find a local business near you: https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/

Why your general waste bin is a big no-no

Electrical appliances are made up of a broad range of materials including precious metals (such as gold and platinum), toxic heavy metals, metal circuitry, mixed plastics, fire retardants and glass.

Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic, as well as flame-retardants can cause environmental contamination through leaching from e-waste in landfill into water systems.

By recycling your electrical appliances, this dangerous contamination can be avoided.

‍