X-rays, batteries, smoke alarms all recycled in Australind
The South West community has embraced a new recycling initiative, introduced late last year, to keep problematic waste out of landfill.
In December, a bright yellow shipping container appeared at Stanley Road Waste Management Facility, providing a drop-off point for items which cannot be placed in kerbside bins.
From batteries to smoke detectors, aerosol cans and mobile phones, the new recycling station takes 15 different items and acts as a one-stop drop-off point for problematic waste.
Bunbury Harvey Regional Council chief executive Tony Battersby said the initiative was working well. He said some of the items were damaging to the environment if they ended up in landfill, while others were worthwhile recycling.
Smoke detectors have a small amount of radioactive material in them and fluorescent tubes have mercury. And coffee pods are made of aluminium, which is a resource. So rather than going and digging more up out of the ground to make new things, let’s recover it.
So far, the initiative has been well received, with tubs of batteries, coffee pods and printer cartridges full to the brim.
There is also half a wheelie bin full of X-rays.
“I guess people hold on to them and aren’t really sure what to do with them,” Mr Battersby said.
“But there is actually a bit of silver in them, so it is quite worthwhile recycling them.”
Many of the items are recycled through Planet Ark programs, with old items gaining a new life as other products, such as printer cartridges turned into rulers.
Mr Battersby said the council was aware the depot (20km from Bunbury) was a bit of a drive away.
We suggest people in their street get together to recycle these things, and make up a roster to drop the waste out here so they can drop it all off at once.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails