Article

A do-gooder’s guide for recycling and donating.

Melbourne Recycling & Donation Guide
23 March 2022 Read time: 5 min

Welcome to our Melbourne Recycling & Donation Guide.

Here at Kearney Group, we’re doing our best to make the world a better place – in all sorts of ways. From launching our very own ESG-rated ethical investments to seed funding the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab, we’re looking for ways to shake up the blah-blah-blah and do our bit.

We got to chatting around the water cooler, sharing some tips and the names of great organisations doing wonders in our community. We were keen to find new and novel ways to minimise waste and our impact on people and our planet.

It was such a hit amongst our team, we decided to pull together our “Melbourne Recycling & Donation Guide“.

Our Guide is ever-changing. So be sure to bookmark this page. It includes just some of our favourite Melbourne / Australian-wide charities and businesses that are helping people to repair, repurpose or recycle common household goods that are otherwise doomed to hit the landfill.

You can search, sort, filter this Guide and submit your hot tips to ensure this list is always expanding.

Thanks for helping us make a positive impact in our community. And without further ado, we bring you our…

 

Melbourne Recycling & Donation Guide.

Here’s our ever-expanding Melbourne Recycling & Donation Guide for hard-to-recycle and difficult-to-donate items.

Updated: 23 March 2022

 

ItemConditionReuse, repair, recycle?Who can help?Also try...Notes
Baby items - bassinets, cots, clothing, prams, car seatsGoodReuse CharitySt Kilda MumsWest Welcome WagonSupport mothers, children via social workers / community orgs
BatteriesBroken / SpentRecyclingOfficeworksBunnings
Blister packs for medicationClean / EmptyRecyclingTerraCycleBiome
BooksGoodReuseStreet LibrariesYour local Library
Bottle topsAnyRecyclingBiomeCollects for Ocean Crusaders
Bread tags - plastic onlyAnyRecyclingBread Tags for WheelchairsBiomeMany local schools collect for this charity too
Brita water filtersAnyRecyclingTerra Cycle
ClothingAnyReuse & RecyclingUpparelUpparel sends clean / good items to partner charities; recycles damaged textiles
Clothing (Children's)GoodReuse CharitySt Kilda Mums
Clothing (Men's)GoodReuse CharityAvalon CentreSupports ASRC and homeless community
Clothing (Women's bras)GoodReuse CharitySupport the GirlsBiomeGold Coast-based charity
Clothing (Women's maternity)GoodReuse CharityCaroline Chisholm SocietyMelbourne & Shepparton
Clothing (Women's work clothing)GoodReuse CharityFitted for Work
Coffee capsulesClean / EmptyRecyclingTerraCycleSeveral programs available through TerraCycle
Contact lenses, plastic film and podsAnyRecyclingBiomeTry Lion's Club for new / unopened contacts
Contact lenses, plastic film and podsNewReuse CharityLions Recycle for SightTry Biome for used contacts
Cosmetics and makeup productsClean / EmptyRecyclingTerraCycleBiomeSeveral programs available through TerraCycle
Dental hygiene - electric toothbrushesAnyRecyclingTerraCycle
Dental hygiene - toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, floss, packaging etcClean / EmptyRecyclingTerraCycleBiome
Egg cartonsClean / EmptyReuse CharityYour local farmers marketReturn to egg sellers
Elastic bandsGoodReuse CharityCeresYour local farmers marketUse bands to bundle up food and veg from their farm
EWasteBroken / SpentRecyclingCheck your council drop off centreOfficeworks
Fabrics and haberdashery such as zips and buttonsGoodReuse CharityGreeve's Street Craft Project Craft Project offered by St Kilda Gatehouse
Fabrics, textiles and fabric scrapsAnyReuse & RecyclingUpparelClean / good items deployed to partner charities; ripped / damaged items recycled
FoodGoodReuse CharityASRCFoodbankAsylum Seekers Resource Centre provides frontline support to refugees and those seeking asylum
Glasses - reading and sightGoodReuse CharityLions Recycle for SightPlease remove glasses from case before sending
Hearing aidsGoodReuse CharityLions Recycle for SightYep! Not just glasses. Hearing aids too!
Household cleaning productsClean / EmptyRecyclingTerraCycleSeveral programs available through TerraCycle
Inflatable toys and pool floatsCleanRecyclingSunnylife
Light globesAnySafe DisposalPlanetArk provides guidanceIKEA
Linen and beddingGoodReuse CharityAvalon CentreWest Welcome WagonIncludes towels, bedding, pillows, sheets, blankets
MattressesAnyRecyclingBed CollectCheck your council drop off centreBed Collect picks up old mattresses for a small fee
MedicinesAnySafe DisposalYour local chemist
Mobile phoneGood with cablesReuse CharityAvalon CentreDV Safe PhonesRemember to wipe data and include cables
Mobile phoneAnyRepairPhone Cycle
Mobile phoneBroken / SpentRecyclingMobile Muster
NappiesNewReuse CharitySt Kilda MumsOpen bags okay to donate
Printer cartridges - lazer or ink jetAnyRecyclingOfficeworks
Shaving and razor bladesAnyRecyclingTerraCycleAny brand of razor, blade and packaging.
Shoes, thongs and bootsAnyReuse & RecyclingUpparelClean / good items deployed to partner charities; lone / damaged items will be recycled
Shoes, thongs and bootsBroken / SpentRecyclingTread LightlyDrop off at Rebel, The Athlete's Foot and more.
SiliconeAnyRecyclingBiomeSilicone products purchased from Biome incl silicone straws, baking sheets, food and bottle covers, Joco cup lids...
SocksGoodReuse CharityAvalon CentreWest Welcome WagonProvided to ASRC and homeless community
Socks - odd socks, socks with holesBroken / SpentRecyclingUpparelUpparel only recycles socks; donate socks in good condition to Avalon Centre
Soft plasticsClean / EmptyRecyclingColes / Woolworths (Redcycle)Drop at in-store drop off bins
StyrofoamAnyRecyclingCheck your council drop off centre
Thongs (Havianas Brand)AnyRecyclingTerraCycle
ToiletriesNewReuse CharitySt Kilda MumsAvalon Centre
Toxic Household ItemsAnySafe DisposalDetox Your HomeCheck your council drop off centre
Toys - Any kindGoodReuse CharitySt Kilda MumsYour local Toy Library
Toys - BrokenAnyRecyclingTerraCycleWill take any toy, in any condition incl broken and electric toys unsuitable for donation
Toys - Plastic toysAnyRecyclingTerraCycleSeveral programs via TerraCycle
Wet suits / Spring suitsAnyRecyclingTerraCycle
Women's hygieneNewReuse CharitySt Kilda MumsNew menstrual cups, pads, tampons. Open packages okay when products are individually wrapped.
Writing Utensils - pens, pencils, textasGoodReuse CharitySt Kilda MumsAlso take calculators and other new stationery for back to school packs
Writing Utensils - pens, pencils, textasBroken / SpentRecyclingOfficeworksTerraCycle
XraysAnyRecyclingCheck your council drop off centre
OTHER ITEMSANYANYPlanetArkZero Waste FreebiesPlanetArk maintains a brilliant resource. Zero Waste Freebies is a Facebook group dedicated to re-homing basically anything

Speak to the team.