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Specialised school recycling list

Other recycling collection ideas for schools

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Many schools help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by gifting or taking particular waste items to special drop-off points. The list below provides some ideas for where to start.

Be a GREAT Sort! Landfill is the last resort.

Please note that government metropolitan schools are bound by a Common Use Arrangement (CUA) for disposal or recycling of some items such as e-waste.

Schools are considered as commercial organisations and are not always eligible for local council collection services. Call ahead to confirm.

Recycling agencies below include charities, non-government organisations, government departments, and businesses that recycle for free or for a small fee.

All information was correct at time of publication.

  • Take batteries to special drop-off points. Find your nearest community drop-off points on the recycle right page.  recycleright.wa.gov.au/find-my-nearest/
  • B-cycle is Australia's official battery recycling scheme. There are many drop-off locations, including some supermarkets, or schools can contact an accredited collector for pick up options. B-Cycle provides container protocols about the best way to collect and store batteries. 
    B-cycle Battery Recycling
  • Ecobatt Recycling Program
    Ecobatt, known for its innovative approach to battery disposal, has created a safe and effective collection and recycling initiative for schools in Western Australia. This free service includes: a collection drum for collecting used household batteries and mobile phones; transport and processing of the collected batteries.
    Ecobatt's smart battery drums come equipped with the latest technology, including GPS tracking, 24/7 heat detection, and sensors that monitor fill levels. This means you can have peace of mind while requiring little to no handling from school staff. When the drum reaches 75 per cent capacity, their team will receive a notification from the unit and arrange a free pick-up.
    If you would like to set up a battery collection program at your school, simply complete the online forms by clicking on the link below and Ecobatt will reach out to assist you in getting it set up.
  • Big Battery Rescue program collects batteries to be recycled. Visit the link to find your local drop-off point. Schools and community groups can sign up to become a drop-off point and can win prizes. The batteries are collected from the school by an accredited recycler. The Big Battery Rescue – National Battery Recycling Challenge

  • Rebuild bikes at school for a Technologies project, then use them for health/fitness or a cycle club.
  • Contact your local bike shop – you may be able to drop bikes off. 
  • Bicycles for Humanity are part of an exciting global volunteer-run, non-profit organisation that uses donated bikes to help alleviate poverty through sustainable transport. https://b4hwa.com/
  • Dismantle are a charity where mentors work with youths to teach them to strip and rebuild bikes. Each participant rebuilds two bikes, one is donated to charity and the participant is allowed to customize and keep the second bike. https://www.dismantle.org.au

  • Contact your local animal shelter or vet to see if they are accepting donations.
  • If your items are of good, usable quality, they could be donated to a charity store.

  • Bread Tags for Wheelchairs collects bread tags and sends their plastic to Transmutation, part of the Precious Plastic movement, who recycle the plastic into new items to be sold on. Profits from selling the bread tags fund wheelchairs. Find a local drop point or mail bread tags directly to South Australia. More information can be found on their website ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au

  • Nespresso accept used capsules. They can be returned to the nearest shop, dropped off at the nearest collection point, or returned to the company using a prepaid envelope. More information is available on their website.  https://www.nespresso.com/au/en/how-to-recycle-coffee-capsules
  • TerraCycle currently has three programs to recycle the following groups of coffee pods: Seven Miles coffee pods; Nescafe Dolce Gusto; and L’Or, Moccona & Illy capsules. Go to their website to find out more information. https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/brigades

  • Terracycle Free Dish and Air Care Recycling Program accepts all brands of used or empty dish detergent and air freshener packaging. Items can be collected and returned for free using a prepaid shipping label. For more information see the Terracyle website. Dish and Air Care Free Recycling Program · TerraCycle

  • The Container Deposit Scheme aims to reduce waste to landfill and litter by offering a 10-cent deposit on most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel, and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150 ml and 3 L. The 10-cent deposit is refunded when the drink container is returned. Set up a physical or virtual donation point at school to collect eligible containers and raise funds for the school community or another charity using the 10-cent deposit per container. www.containersforchange.com.au/wa/
  • Alternatively, place empty items loose with the lids off in your comingled recycling bin (except for the tetrapak containers which go in the general waste bin if not using the CDS scheme).

  • NB: Government metropolitan schools are bound by a waste disposal and recycling CUA. Please check for e-waste recycling service providers. https://www.wa.gov.au/government/cuas/waste-disposal-and-recycling-services-cuawas2016#category-e-ict-equipment-disposal-e-waste
  • TechCollect operates under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme. They have many free drop-off points and collection events throughout the country. For more information see the TechCollect website. techcollect.com.au/
  • Sam’s Spares is a 100 per cent volunteer run Not for Profit Organisation that saves unwanted e-waste from landfill. They repair and refurbish computers, laptops, mobile phones, gaming systems and other electronics and gift them freely to community members in need. Donations can be dropped to Sam’s Workshop in Gosnells or collections can be arranged for larger donations. For more information see the website. Sam's Spares
  • Most local councils have e-waste collections and drop-off points, however some of these may involve a fee. Contact your local council for more information.

  • Working fridges should be donated to a local charity shop which accepts electrical goods.
  • Non-working fridges can be de-gassed by a licensed electrician and turned into a fridge worm farm. Some councils provide degassed fridges to schools for free or for a small cost, check with your local council or landfill site.

  • Mobile Muster provide a free mobile phone recycling program in Australia. Schools can register and will be sent an education kit to help run a muster and learn about recycling. The kit provides a collection box, stimulus material, flip chart book and badges. For more information see the Mobile Muster website. Education - Mobile Muster
  • Sam’s Spares is a 100 per cent volunteer run Not for Profit Organisation that saves unwanted e-waste from landfill. They repair and refurbish computers, laptops, mobile phones, gaming systems and other electronics and gift them freely to community members in need. Donations can be dropped to Sam’s Workshop in Gosnells or collections can be arranged for larger donations. For more information see the website. Sam's Spares

  • Bottle Top Hill is a community collection and education hub for plastic lids. The volunteers run a community collection event monthly (second Saturday) in Melville, for schools, businesses and the general public. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/BottleTopHill/
  • CLAW recycling accepts clean plastic bottle tops for recycling in Welshpool. For more information please contact: admin@clawenvironmental.com
  • Containers for Change accepts lids from eligible containers, but you’ll need to remove them from the containers before you receive a refund. All refund point depots have dedicated bins where you can return your container lids. For bag drops, place them loosely in the bag. https://www.containersforchange.com.au/wa/
  • TerraCycleBottle Caps Zero Waste Box can be purchased for a fee  and used to collect plastic and metal bottle caps. Once the box is full, send the box back to TerraCycle to be recycled. For more information see the Terracycle website. Bottle Caps Zero Waste Box™ | TerraCycle – TerraCycle Zero Waste Boxes Australia  

  • Planet Ark has set up drop-off locations for printer cartridges and made it very easy to set up your own collection. Register for a box and once full, download a free postage-paid return label to send the cartridges for recycling. https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/cartridges4planetark/howto

  • Claw Environmental recycles electronic and white goods packaging, eskies, boxes, and insulation. Go to their website to find out about conditions required for free drop-off at Claw Environmental in Welshpool or at one of the alternative EPS recycling centres. https://www.clawenvironmental.com

  • Fair Game collects preloved sports equipment and distributes it in response to specific requests from under-serviced communities in Australia, to improve the health and fitness of communities. https://www.fairgame.org.au/

  • GiveWrite is an NGO which donates new and pre-loved school stationary to recycle, repackage and regift to WA kids in need who start the school year with nothing. Run a donation drive or leave at a public donation point.  http://givewrite.org.au/
  • Officeworks will provide schools with a pen recycling box, which they can request from their local store. Once the recycling box is full of old pens and markers, return it to your local Officeworks. For more information see the Officeworks website. Recycling at Officeworks | Pen, Cartridge & Computer Recycling
  • TerraCycle Free Writing Implements Recycling Program accepts any brand of pen, felt tip, highlighter, marker, correction fluid pot (must be empty), correction tape, mechanical pencil and eraser pen regardless of their composition. No wooden pencils. https://www.terracycle.com/en-AU/brigades/writing-instruments-recycling-au

  • Preloved uniforms that are still in good condition can be donated back to the school and sold through the uniform shop at a reduced cost.
  • Upparel postage labels can be purchased for a fee and allow you to return up to 20kg of unwanted clothing, linen, shoes, and other textiles in one box. They accept almost all textiles for reusing, repurposing, and recycling. For more information see their website. UPPAREL | Leading the Change for the Next Generation
  • RCYCL postage bags can be purchased for a fee and allow you to return up to 20 unwearable garments. For more information see their website. RCYCL | Sustainability, in the bag – rcycl.com.au
  • Textile Recyclers Australia offer a collection box service that can be purchased for a fee. Price includes empty box drop off, collection of filled boxes and recycling of box contents. For more information see their website. Best Textile Recycling Solutions Australia | Textile Recyclers Australia