Recycling in every room: the Laundry
How many plastic bottles are hiding in that laundry cupboard? Full of cleaning products we hardly use?
Kerbside recycling bin:
Cleaning products (like disinfectant spray) can most likely be recycled in your kerbside bin.
Pumps are not recyclable through your kerbside bin. Remember to remove it from your spray or soap if it has one.
Look for the Australasian Recycling Label label for the recycling instructions. If in doubt, leave it out!
If the kerbside bin contains a contaminant, the whole contents of the recycling bin will be thrown out. So it’s important to avoid wish-cycling. That is, chucking something in the bin hoping that it will be recycled when it can’t be.
Some laundry products packaging, like powder, are made from cardboard. This can also be placed in the recycling bin or in a compost bin.
RecycleSmart collects:
Soft Plastics: Plastic sachets, pet food bags
E-waste: Iron, small vacuum cleaner, torches
Textiles: Clothes in sellable condition, unwearable textiles like clothes with holes or stains, towels, linen
Misfits: Household light bulbs, batteries, paint, smoke detectors/alarms
Sustainable swaps:
Universal cleaner: Just add water! Did you know that you can use the same product to clean glass, steel and other surfaces?
Laundry sheets: Zero waste replacement for powder or detergent
Stain remover stick: Zero waste and toxin free alternative
Wool dryer balls: Reduces drying time and the need for ironing
Want to DIY laundry powder? Here’s a recipe!
Recycling tip: Cut up stained or damaged clothes to make cleaning rags.
