A-Z of waste
A one-stop-shop for what to do with unwanted items on campus. Remember – always reduce and reuse before you recycle, and leave landfill as the last option!
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Aluminium foil and trays
Which bin? Clean your aluminium foil and trays of food residue. Roll up aluminium foil into a loose ball (approximately the size of a tennis ball). Place in the yellow recycling bins.
If food residues cannot be cleaned off properly, place in landfill bins.Alternative option Reusable bees wax or soy wraps. Reusable platters/trays More information Choose to Reuse -
Balloons
Balloons, and balloon accessories like plastic clips and ribbons, are not biodegradable. Balloons harm both the environment and animals. In particular mylar balloons, which are essentially foil-coated plastic, stay in the environment forever.
Led by Zoos Victoria’s campaign, the University of Melbourne has joined over 100 organisations by pledging to not use balloons at events. Say no to balloons!
Which bin? Landfill Alternative option There are plenty of alternative party decorations such as reusable bunting or bunting made from fabric or paper (not plastic), fruit bowls for centre pieces, fresh flowers or confetti made from leaves. More information Sustainable Events Guide (pp.20) -
Bamboo or wooden chopsticks and cutlery
Which bin? Landfill Alternate options Carry a reusable cutlery set with you or use cutlery from the Choose to Reuse service at the Student Precinct when buying food or drinks. Purchase your own reusable cutlery and other items from the Reuse Vending Machine. More information Choose to Reuse -
Banners
Which bin? Banners and other promotional materials can be sent to TerraCycle or Green Collect to be up-cycled or turned into other products. If damaged, the aluminium bases can be placed in Hard Waste Collection through ServiceNow (staff only). For the vinyl banners please check Find a PVC Recycler. Reuse Some banners can be recoated / the bases can be reused for another vinyl banner. A variety of branded banners and other items are available via the University's Event Hire Store. Alternate options You can extend the use of promotional materials by not using specific event titles and/or dates. More information Sustainable Events Guide (pp.18) -
Batteries
Batteries are the most common form of household hazardous waste. But the environmental impact of batteries is not limited to the waste stream. Environmental impacts occur in the production, distribution and end-of-life phases of the battery life cycle.
Which bin? On campus: To dispose of batteries, please locate your nearest Battery Bucket. Staff can set up a battery bucket in their office space place a ServiceNow request to have it collected. The University currently accepts lithium and alkaline batteries only.
Off Campus: 'B-cycle' is a free Government-backed Scheme that recycles old and used household style batteries. Visit B-cycle Battery Recycling to find your nearest battery drop-off point.
Batteries cannot go in the landfill as they are toxic. Never put them in a landfill or recycling bin. Always find a safe disposable method as they can deteriorate and leak.Alternative options Use rechargeable batteries where possible (charged via green power if available). More information B-cycle -
Binders
Which bin? If they have a vinyl covering then they must go in landfill. If they are cardboard or paper based then they can go in the recycling bin. Alternative options Use the binders you already have before buying more. Purchase cardboard binders whenever possible. -
Biodegradable items including bioplastics
Which bin? Landfill Alternative option Use reusable items. If on the Parkville campus, you can use these items for free from the Choose to Reuse Plate Program at the Student Precinct, Building 168, the Arts and Cultural Building and the ERC. More information Choose to Reuse -
Books
Which bin? Unwanted books can be sold or donated to a charity shop. Alternatively, recycle any old textbooks not worth giving away with Planet Ark Recycling at one of their drop-off points across Melbourne. Alternative option Avoid buying new books by opting for e-books instead, borrowing from libraries or swapping, selling or donating your books. More information Planet Ark Recycling -
Business cards or brochures
Which bin? Promotional and paper materials can be disposed of in the yellow mixed recycling bins. For large amounts of promotional and paper materials, staff can hire a cardboard bin by submitting a ServiceNow request. -
Cardboard
Cardboard is one of the easiest and most environmentally effective materials to recycle since the fibre in cardboard has already been processed.
Which bin? Small cardboard: Recycling
Large cardboard: Staff are able to hire a cardboard bin by submitting a ServiceNow request. Please flatten any boxes first.
Waxed cardboard: LandfillAlternative option Cardboard boxes can be reused for shipping and moving house. Encourage suppliers to take back packaging wherever possible. -
Clothing
Clothing, shoes, fabric, sheets, towels and other textiles should never be put in your household recycling bin. Fortunately, there are lots of other ways to reuse or recycle your old clothing and textiles.To help charity shops keep their costs down, follow the golden rule for donations: if you would gift it to a friend or family member, then it’s in good enough condition to donate.
Which bin? Landfill Alternative option Donate clothing in good condition to local charities and op-shops or host a clothes swap. More information Locate your nearest clothing and textiles donation point using Planet Ark's Recycling Near You finder. -
Coffee cups
Disposable coffee cups are not recyclable as they contain a plastic inner layer which is too difficult to separate from the paper cup during the recycling process.
Which bin? Landfill Alternative option Use a reusable cup from the Reuse Vending Machine, dine in with a mug, or borrow a cup through the Green Caffeen free reusable swap & go coffee cup program. More information Coffee cups
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Coffee pods
Single-serve coffee pods are too small to be sorted correctly in the current recycling system.
Which bin? Can only be recycled though a specialist recycling stream, not in the general recycling on campus.
Use the pod collection point in the kitchen of Level 2 Alan Gilbert Building. Alternatively, organise your own collection point and recycle coffee pods through either TerraCycle or Nespresso.If you do not have access to a special collection bin, put the pods in landfill.Alternative option Using reusable coffee pods or use a coffee machine that uses beans in bulk More information Coffee cups -
Cups (biodegradable and compostable)
Most 'biodegradable' cups need to be processed through commercial composting facilities in order for them to break down. Some can be composted at home, but we can't process them through food organics buckets or compost bins on campus.
Which bin? Landfill Alternative option Use a reusable cup or dine in More information Coffee cups
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Confidential documents
Which bin? Permanent confidential document disposal bins are located in most major buildings across campus. Place a Service Now (staff only) request if you wish to have a confidential document bin emptied. More information Confidential document disposal -
E-waste
The University has become increasingly aware of the issues caused by disposal of electronic waste (E-waste) worldwide and consequently has decided to address the disposal of unwanted electronic equipment in a consistent, environmentally conscious manner.
Which bin? Please refer here for the reuse and disposal of electronic assets. More information E-waste -
Food waste
Type of food waste Which bin? Fruit and vegetable scraps Organics bin, worm farm, the food waste processor Tea bags and coffee grounds Organics bin, worm farm, the food waste processor Citrus The food waste processor Cooked food Organics bin, worm farm, the food waste processor Meat and dairy The food waste processor Onion, garlic and spicy foods Organics bin, the food waste processor Cooking oil Organics bin Visit food organics for more information.
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Furniture
Which bin? Place a Service Now (staff only) request to have unwanted furniture collected for reuse More information Furniture and Equipment Reuse Service -
Garden waste
Type of garden waste Which bin? Flowers/plants/grass Organics bin, compost, food waste processor. If unavailable, put in the landfill Dirt/soil Compost. If unavailable, put in the landfill Plant pots (plastic) Recycling Plant trimmings Organics bin, compost, food waste processor. If unavailable, put in the landfill -
Glass
Type of glass waste Which bin? Bottles and jars Recycling Broken glass Wrap in paper and put in landfill -
Hard waste
Hard waste includes scrap metal and broken or damaged furniture and equipment that can no longer be used.
Which bin? Book a Service Now (staff only) request to have hard waste removed More information Hard waste -
Light Bulbs
Mercury in landfill converts to the toxic Methylmercury and spreads through the wider environment through air, water and soil.The University of Melbourne is now recognised for its commitment to reducing the amount of mercury entering the environment from the disposal of waste containing mercury-lighting. We dispose of our light globes responsibly and have signed the FluoroCycle Signatory Commitment.
Which bin? Dispose of fluorescent and other types of light globes at the collection point at the Physics loading area off Swanston Street. -
Masks (disposable)
Which bin? Landfill Alternative option Reusable masks -
Old textbooks
Which bin? Old textbooks can be sold or donated to a charity shop. Alternatively, recycle any old textbooks not worth giving away with Planet Ark Recycling at one of their drop-off points across Melbourne. Alternative option Avoid buying new textbooks by opting for e-books instead or borrowing the library when possible. More information Planet Ark Recycling -
Old University merchandise
Which bin? Most end up in landfill however it depends on what the item is. For more specific information please contact sustainable-campus@unimelb.edu.au. Alternative option Avoid accepting or buying merchandise that you don't need. In the case of running events, if you do need branded merchandise, make sure to do the following where appropriate:- Do not overbuy. Monitor the number of items purchased and given away;
- Ensure items are not dated so that they can be reused in the following months/years;
- Ensure any packaging is environmentally friendly;
- Give things that can be reused multiple times.
More information Contact sustainable-campus@unimelb.edu.au.
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Pallets & wood
Which bin? Pallets & wood need to be disposed of via a Hard Waste Collection by Campus Assist. Staff can submit a Hard Waste Collection request via ServiceNow.
Never put them in a landfill or recycling bin.More information Hard Waste Removal -
Paper
Which bin? Paper can be recycled in the large blue bins across campus. For large quantities to be removed and recycled, place a ServiceNow request (staff only). Alternative option Make the most of digital documents and transfer rather than printing. Promote events via email and social media or utilise website news channels to communicate a project within the University. For items that do require printing, make sure to use FSC certified paper and then recycle at end of life. -
Paper towels
Which bin? Landfill. Paper towels are made from virgin materials and cannot be recycled. Alternative option Use tea towels instead -
Plastic chopsticks and cutlery
Which bin? Landfill. These pieces of plastic are too small and flat to be processed correctly in mixed recycling systems. Alternative option Use reusable items or the Univesity's Choose to Reuse program.
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Plastic containers and bottles
Which bin? Recycling. Clean your plastic containers and bottles of food residue. and place in the yellow recycling bins.If food residues cannot be cleaned off properly, place in the landfill bins.Alternative option Use reusable items or the Univesity's Choose to Reuse program. -
Plastic or biodegradable bags
Which bin? Landfill. Alternative option Reusable bags or newspaper as an alternative to a plastic bin liner. -
Polystyrene
Which bin? Polystyrene can be recycled at specialised collection points if it is clean, white, expanded polystyrene. UoM has polystyrene collection points and local transfer stations also accept polystyrene for recycling. If no collection points are available, place in landfill. More information -
Sanitary items
Which bin? Sanitary waste bins provided in bathroom cubicles. Alternative option Reusable and washable period underwear or a menstrual cup. -
Serviettes/napkins
Which bin? Landfill. Fibres in serviettes/napkins are too short to be used again and cannot be recycled. Alternative option Use reusable serviettes instead. -
Soft plastics
Soft plastics are any plastics that can be scrunched and not return to its original shape, including:
- Shopping bags including reusable 'green' bags
- Fresh fruit and veggie bags
- Bread bags
- Biscuit packaging and confectionery packaging
- Rice & pasta packets and frozen food bags
Which bin? Recycle soft plastics with RecycleSmart by scheduling a pickup - this service operates across Melbourne.
If you do not have a soft plastics collection near by, use the landfill bin.Alternative option Rethink what you buy. Buy items with minimal packaging, in reusable packaging or from bulk food stores. More information RecycleSmart -
Sponges
Which bin? Landfill. Alternative option Use a plant-based loofah sponges as an eco-friendly alternative. -
Stationery / Office Equipment
Which bin? Recycle through Terracycle or at Officeworks.
If you no longer need items that are still in good condition, you can donate them to organisations that can give them a second life. Green Collect aims to reuse binders, highlighters, CDs, whiteboards, envelopes, and a whole range of items before upcycling, and then recycling if they need to.Alternatively, use the landfill bin (unless stated other by the packaging label).Alternative option Use the stationery you already have before buying more. When purchasing new stationery, buy items you can reuse, for example refillable pens. More information Office Clean Out -
Tins and cans
Which bin? Recycling. Do not crush aluminium cans before putting them in the mixed recycling bin - this may inhibit them being recycled. Alternative option Use reusable containers/bottles where possible. -
Tissues
Which bin? Landfill. Alternative option Only take the amount that you actually need or use a handkerchief. -
Toner / Ink Cartridges
Over 24 million cartridges have been diverted from landfill through ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’.
Which bin? All inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges and toner bottles from participating brands can be placed in the 'Cartridges 4 Planet Ark' box. Unopened toner cartridges can be disposed of in the same way as empty ones. The toner and cartridge are recycled. To recycle printer or toner cartridges, look at the manufactuerer box for further instructions.. More information Register for a free collection box from Planet Ark.