In the first edition of our recycling guide, we asked readers if they had any items they wanted to know how to recycle, and they certainly did.

After sorting through all 129 responses – a shout out to the person who commented ‘wooden toilet seat’ – we’ve narrowed the list to 32 new items.

If we’ve missed anything else, leave your submissions in the suggestion box below.

Aerosol cans and spray paint

Full aerosol cans should be disposed of via your local council’s hazardous waste disposal program.

Empty aerosol cans can be placed into the recycling bin, unless they have previously held butane or other flammable materials, in which case they should be taken to a chemical drop-off point.

Spray paint cans can be disposed of via council hazardous waste disposal programs.

Bedding and fabric 

Bedding and fabric of any brand or condition can be recycled via collection bins at stores like H&M and Zara, or placed into the general waste bin at home.

If items are in good condition, donate to your local op-shop.

Books

Place broken books into the recycling bin, or donate to an op-shop or second-hand book seller if in good condition.

Broken glass

Broken glass should be safely wrapped in paper or plastic and then placed into the general waste bin.

Bubble wrap and soft plastics

Bubble wrap and other soft plastics should be placed into the general waste bin. If you live in Melbourne, these plastics can be taken to one of the 12 stores trialling soft-plastic recycling.

Cardboard box with tape or labels attached

Remove as much of the sticky plastic as you can and place it into the general waste bin. Then put the remaining cardboard into the recycling bin.

Ceramics

Place broken or contaminated ceramics into the general waste bin. If they’re in good condition, donate to an op-shop.

Coffee pods

Coffee pods go into the general waste bin. However, L’OR, Moccona, illy, Campos, Jed’s and Lavazza capsules can be recycled via Terracycle, and aluminium coffee capsules of any brand can be taken to Nespresso stores or drop-off points.

Computers

Place computers and computer parts into an e-waste bin – erase them first if you can. If you have a Mac, Apple will recycle the device for free.

Expired chemicals

Do not put these in the bin or down the drain. Instead, dispose of via your council’s hazardous waste disposal program.

Glossy cardboard

Glossy cardboard can be placed into the recycling bin if it doesn’t have a plastic coating.

Make-up

Make-up goes into the general waste bin. Empty or nearly empty make-up tubes and containers can be taken to MECCA and Priceline stores for disposal via Terracycle. Empty MAC Cosmetics products can be returned to MAC stores.

Milk bottle lids

Milk bottle lids go into the general waste bin, or can be recycled via Lids4Kids.

Mirrors

Mirrors go into the general waste bin. If in good condition, donate to an op-shop.

Needles/syringes 

Needles, syringes and other sharps should be placed into a yellow sharps container. This container should then be taken to designated disposal points like pharmacies, hospitals or community disposal locations. Each state/territory has their own needle/syringe disposal programs, so check their respective department of health websites for more information.

Old pens

Old pens go into the general waste bin. They can also be taken to Officeworks for recycling via Terracycle.

Pizza box

Pizza boxes are tricky as each council has different rules – some say general waste, others say recycling bin. Check with your local waste collection service to see what’s best in your area.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene goes into the general waste bin. Some council recycling centres will also take polystyrene.

Printer cartridges

Printer cartridges should be placed into designated bins at all Officeworks stores and participating Australia Post, Cartridge World, Harvey Norman, The Good Guys, JB Hi Fi, Office National and Office Products Depot outlets.

Shaver blades

Razor blades and shaving products should go into the general waste bin, or be recycled via Terracycle.

Shoes

Shoes go into the general waste bin or can be recycled via Zara’s collection bins. Old sport shoes can be disposed of via Shoes for Planet Earth and Treadlightly. If they’re in good condition, donate to an op-shop.

Small wood pieces

Small wood pieces go into the general waste bin or can be taken to a council recycling centre.

Sporting goods

Sporting goods go into the general waste bin. Good-quality sporting goods can be donated to op-shops or to Boots for All.

Tea bags

Tea leaves go into the organic waste bin while the tea bag, tag and string go into general waste.

Tissue

Tissue can go into the organic waste or general waste bin.

Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes go into the general waste bin, or they can be recycled via Terracycle at selected dentists and other locations.

TVs

TVs go into the e-waste bin at recycling centres.

UHT milk cartons

UHT milk cartons go into the general waste bin, unless otherwise specified by your council.

Video tapes

Video tapes go into the general waste bin. They can also be taken to a council recycling centre.

Whitegoods 

Whitegoods cannot be disposed of via the home bin. Some councils will take whitegoods and there may be other recycling options near you.

X-rays 

X-rays can be recycled via X-ray recycling bins at council recycling centres and community facilities like libraries. Otherwise, they should go into the general waste bin.

The extended list

Bamboo and wood cutlery

Bamboo and wood cutlery should be placed into the general waste bin.

Barbecue gas canisters 

Empty gas canisters can be swapped for filled ones at select petrol stations, hardware stores like Bunnings and Mitre 10, caravan parks and convenience stores. Otherwise, they should be taken to specialised recycling services.

Biodegradable plastic bags

Don’t let the name fool you, these bags should be placed into the general waste bin.

Blister packs 

Blister packs used to store medications can be recycled via Pharmacycle bins at select Chemist Warehouse, National Pharmacy and Blooms the Chemist stores, or placed into general waste.

Car battery

Car batteries can be disposed of at your local council’s waste transfer centre or at Repco and Supercheap Auto stores.

Clear plastic containers

Place these containers into the recycling bin – they should be clean and dry.

Compostable coffee cups

Place these cups into general waste unless it’s clearly stated that they can go into the home compost bin.

Cooking oil

Cooking oil can be recycled at your local council’s waste transfer station. It should never be poured down the drain. Small amounts of cooking oil can be disposed of in garden compost.

Corks

Natural corks can be recycled through the ReCork program at select Dan Murphy’s stores. Synthetic/plastic corks should go into general waste.

Dead animals

Dead animals should be placed into a plastic bag and then put into the general waste bin.

Drink cans

Aluminium drink cans should be placed into the recycling bin or taken to a container deposit scheme drop-off site in your state/territory.

Food scraps

Food scraps go into the organic waste bin. Note: Some councils require bones and shells to go into general waste.

Garden waste

Place garden waste into the organic waste bin.

Glasses

Glasses, hearing aids and unused contact lenses can be dropped off at Specsavers stores for donation to Lions Recycle for Sight Australia. Otherwise they can be placed into the general waste bin.

Light bulbs

Light bulbs should be placed into e-waste bins at council waste transfer stations. Some libraries have e-waste recycling as well.

Medication

Medications, supplements, gels, liquids, creams and pet medicines can be taken to your local pharmacy for safe disposal via the Return Unwanted Medicines Project.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones should be placed into e-waste bins, taken to Mobile Muster collection points at Officeworks, Telstra, Vodafone and Optus stores, or posted to Mobile Muster. If you have an iPhone, Apple will recycle it for free.

Old clothing

Clothing in good condition can be donated to your local op-shop. Otherwise, it should be placed into general waste.

Old hand tools

If tools are in good condition, contact your local op-shop or Men’s Shed to see if they take donations. Electrical tools like drills and grinders should be placed into e-waste bins at council waste transfer stations. Other tools should be disposed of safely in general waste bins.

Old power tool batteries 

Old power tool batteries can be placed into B-cycle battery recycling bins at stores like Bunnings, Aldi, Coles and Woolworths, and independent hardware stores.

Paint

Paint can be taken to drop-off locations at certain council waste transfer stations for recycling by Paintback.

Paper

Paper should be placed into the recycling bin.

Plastic chip packets

Plastic chip packets should be placed into the general waste bin or, if you live in Melbourne, one of the 12 stores trialling soft-plastic recycling.

Plastic drink bottles

Plastic drink bottles should be placed into the recycling bin or taken to a container deposit scheme drop-off site if available in your state/territory.

Single-use coffee cups

The coffee cup should be placed into the general waste bin, while the lid should go into the recycling bin. Cups can also be taken to Simply Cups drop-off sites at 7-Eleven stores and select supermarkets and cafes for recycling.

Small batteries

Small batteries should be placed into B-cycle battery recycling bins at Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings, Battery World or in bins at council waste transfer stations.

Small electronics

Small electronics should be placed into e-waste bins at council waste transfer stations, some libraries and select Officeworks stores.

Vapes/e-cigarettes

• Reusable vapes: Batteries can be removed and given to a battery recycling service. The cartridge, reusable pod and e-liquid (vape juice) can be taken to pharmacies and returned through the Return Unwanted Medicines Program. The outside container goes in the general waste bin
• Single-use vapes: Single-use vapes are difficult to dispose of safely. Contact your local council to see if they have a vape drop-off point.