Recycle effectively at UNSW

Help us increase material recovery and landfill diversion by using the different recycling streams available on campus.  

Below is a list of specialist drop-off points and recycling opportunities provided by UNSW (Kensington, Paddington and Randwick campuses).  

How to recycle on campus

Batteries and mobile phones
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  • Do not place them in the red bin. Batteries placed in the red bin can cause fires. Before disposing batteries, tape battery terminals (the end bits) with regular, non-conductive tape, like duct tape, clear sticky tape or electrical tape.  
  • Drop of undamaged single-use or rechargeable batteries of up to D size, at the recycling boxes located at Library Level 2 (near main entrance), Arc Reception or Basser College. Find battery drop off locations on the campus sustainability map.  
  • For larger quantities or damaged batteries, collect the batteries in a clear plastic bag or glass jar and complete highlighted fields in the waste inventory form found here. Email the completed form to emgeneralservices@unsw.edu.au to organise a collection. 

Clear soft plastic

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You can recycle any clear soft plastic that passes the scrunch test into the orange bins. This means any plastic packaging that is transparent, colourless and can be easily squeezed into a ball in your hand.  

Acceptable soft plastics include:

  • Pallet wrap
  • Shrink wrap
  • Stretch wrap
  • Bubble wrap
  • Air pillows
  • Plastic bags

How to effectively recycle soft plastic:

  • Collect clear soft plastic at a central location in your office, lab or workshop in a clear plastic bag. You can collect clear plastic bin liners from lower campus Stores. Use this poster to set up a collection point in your office. 

  • Once full, deposit your clear soft plastic into an orange bin at one of the following locations on campus (sustainability map): 

    • E8 Science & Engineering Building (Lower Campus Store)
    • E26 Biological Sciences (Upper Campus Store)
    • Paddington (FGQ14) 

For further information contact EM General services via email emgeneralservices@unsw.edu.au.

Clear soft plastic recycling instructionschevron_right

Drink containers with a barcode

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Recycle uncrushed and labelled drink containers eligible under the Return & Earn Container Deposit Scheme into one of the four Charopy bins installed on campus. They are located at: 

  • Outside The Little Marionette coffee shop (E24) 
  • Next to Main library entrance (D22) 
  • Quadrangle lawn - next to chemist along the lawn (E15) 
  • Terraces - across from IGA (C9)   

See the UNSW Kensington campus sustainability map for detailed locations. 

Electronic waste
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  • IT e-waste: Use UNSW free of charge collection and recycling service for IT based e-waste items (laptops, desktops, computer accessories, monitors, monitor stands, server racks, printers, and other hardware).
    • Please book an Archibus request here for e-waste disposal as non-billable and the items will be collected from your nominated location. If you don’t have Archibus access, contact IT Support service here.
    • For computer and accessories, you can also contact ARC eReuse team to donate your items. 

Fluorescent tubes and bulbs
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You can recycle any light bulbs and tubes by placing them in the collection box located behind Morven Brown (check  the campus sustainability map).

Foil
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Clean aluminium foil (scrunched together in a fist-sized ball) and trays go in office yellow bin. If the aluminium foil is contaminated with food scraps place it in the red bin.

Food waste

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  • Separating food waste from the general waste stream increase landfill diversion and help reduce methane emissions to the atmosphere. Place your fruit and vegetable scraps, food leftovers (without packaging), coffee grounds and meat & dairy leftovers into the green lid food organic bin. You can find caddies in the kitchen areas in Kensington and Paddington campuses.
  • Before your event, plan to donate food leftovers to Food Hub. 
  • Want to compost at home? Check to see if your local council has a curb side organic waste stream, and/or if they have partnered with Compost Revolution to provide subsidised compost bins and worm farms. Gardening Australia has clear information to start your composting journey. 

Furniture
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Use UNSW Furniture Reuse Program by adding your furniture in good conditions to an OpenCart system. The furniture will be reused by other Departments looking for new items.  

Mobile phones

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Paper and cardboard
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Use the blue bins in your building, office space and near your classroom areas. 

Polystyrene

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Find established collection points for polystyrene disposal on the campus sustainability map. 

Polystyrene recycling instructionschevron_right

Toner cartridges
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  • Drop off empty toner cartridges at the recycling boxes located at Library Level 5 (near the staff lift) or in your office (if available). 

Other options to consider outside of campus

Bicycle
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Donate your old bike to Revolve Recycling. Their certified mechanics repair and redeploy good quality bikes which are resold at affordable prices. Kids’ bikes are donated to kids that have no access to bikes. All other material is diverted from landfill to recycling. 

Clothing & textiles

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  • Damaged and soiled items that cannot be sold or donated should be disposed of in the red garbage bin. 

Chemicals and paint

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The EPA regularly host Chemical CleanOutThis external link will open in a new window events with a collection point in Clovelly for several dangerous items including paint, chemicals, batteries and poisons. 

Medicine (unwanted) and blister packs
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