Our Director and team at Back In Motion Mentone are especially passionate about reducing our impact on the environment. You may have seen our previous newsletter pieces on reducing single use plastics such as plastic bags and plastic straws. You may have also noticed the removal of our paper towel system in the bathroom which was replaced with hand towels. We have four different types of bins around the practice to separate our waste into general waste, soft plastics, hard plastics and paper.
Here is some more information about how to recycle other common products that often end up in landfill.
Electrical Appliances:
- These are commonly referred to as “e-waste”. They are made up of lots of different materials which can leak from the product whilst in landfill and flow into water systems causing pollution. However, as much as 95% of materials can be recovered for reuse.
What do I do?
- Pick up your e-waste box from Storage King (for just $3.50) and start saving up your broken electronics until the box is full. It includes: printers, faxes, CD drives, projectors, cables, keyboards, mice, cameras, iPods, mobile phones, mobile phone batteries and chargers.
- Call your local Storage King to find out more (our nearest ones are Cheltenham 9881 1351 or Braeside 9588 0300)
Batteries:
- The heavy metals used to make batteries leaks out when in landfill. These metals are potentially hazardous to humans and the environment. Not only that, but they can be recycled and reused.
What do I do?
- Now this one is easy. ALDI offers a free battery recycling program at all Australian stores. They accept all AA, AAA, C, D and 9V batteries (both rechargeable and non-rechargeable).
Phones:
- Everyone loves upgrading their phone! That ‘new phone’ and exciting new technology feeling is fantastic. But what do you do with the old one? Unfortunately majority of mobile phones end up in landfill and leak harmful chemicals into our waterways.
What do I do?
- Mobile Muster has been in Australia since 1998. In a survey completed in 2005 only 46% of Australian’s knew that their phones could be recycled. So here we are to tell you, mobile phones, batteries and accessories CAN and SHOULD be recycled. There are 3,500 drop off points including all major mobile phone retailers (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Samsung).
- CLICK HERE to find out more
Printer cartridges:
- Cartridges are made up of a mixture of plastics, metals, foam, ink and toner. Majority of these materials are recoverable and can be used to make new products. You will also help save water and energy as it is much easier to make products from recycling, then from new materials.
What do I do?
- Cartridges 4 Planet Ark is a program that works alongside the manufacturers to reduce the 34 printer cartridges that Australians send to landfill every minute. You can find out where to deposit your cartridges on the link below… But it includes Officeworks and the Post Office. The cost of the recycling program is covered by the companies that manufacture the cartridges!
- CLICK HERE to find out more
We would love to know more and hear from you too! If you have a great way of recycling, please email us at mentone@backinmotion.com.au
Our Director, Mandy Lowe, also has her own worm farm at home to dispose of coffee grounds, tea bags, and vegetable and fruit scraps. It is extremely easy to use, doesn’t smell and provides worm tea for the garden (liquid gold for those green thumbs out there).
Click here to see the one Mandy has at home.