On Monday, the 7th of Oct 2019, the Council will once again proceed with its regular kerbside collection in The Gap. Whilst this is a good time to do your spring cleaning, especially with the holidays coming up, it might be better to find other options for getting rid of your stuff if you’ve still got heaps of reusables.
Kerbside collection is a great initiative, but did you know that the acceptable items you put out for disposal will be dumped in the landfills? To be clear, these acceptable items include:
- bath and laundry tubs
- bicycles and sporting equipment
- carpet and rugs
- electronic waste (e.g. televisions and computers)
- furniture and white goods (e.g. fridges and stoves)
- small household appliances (e.g. fans and toasters)
- wood products less than 1.5 metres
So, instead of piling these items on kerbside collection day, here are other suggestions for disposal, provided these are still useful.
Bath, Laundry Tubs and Bedding
Got old towels, bedding, sheets, tubs, crates and bowls you no longer use? Give them away at a local animal shelter of your choice rather than putting these out for kerbside collection.
Shelter animals, especially puppies and kittens, will still have a lot of use for these to keep them comfortable and warm inside really cold and hard cages. Shelter workers may also reuse your tubs and bowls for feeding the animals or cleaning the premises.
Furniture, Appliances and White Goods
Old but still working or repairable fridges, stoves, toasters and other furniture, appliances and white goods can be donated to a local charity if you’ve got no family members or friends who might want it.
The Council recommends a few non-profit organisations that accept old household items and you may also bring your second-hand stuff to Council-recommended tip shops in Acacia Ridge or Geebung.
Some organisations have specific needs (e.g. children’s items for a children’s charity, sporting equipment for a disability charity) so be sure to do your diligent research before bringing pre-loved items to their establishment.
For your convenience, these organisations may also arrange for a pick up so you won’t need to transport your things.
Wood Scraps
Wood scraps and pieces of lumber can be turned into planters, toys and other useful home items. If you’re not a crafty builder then consider donating your wood scraps to a local arts and crafts maker or better yet, commission an artist to turn your trash into a lovely decorative piece, which you may use at your home or give as a gift to your friends.
Electronic Wastes
Keyboards or mouse you hardly touch anymore or dusty joysticks from an old computer gaming equipment may be dropped off at recycling facilities. Find out more details about this at the Department of the Environment and Energy website.