The Lane Cove Sustainability Action Group (LCSAG) are a committed group of volunteers who have been at the forefront of sustainability for years.
One of the programmes that LCSAG supported was the small appliance/e-waste bin that was located in Lane Cove Cove Woolworths. This was to encourage locals to recycle items rather than putting them in the household cleanup. Items collected by Lane Cove Council during a household cleanup go straight to landfill.
LCSAG worked with Arnie’s Recon to install a collection pin at Woolworths so that people could easily recycle electronic goods – basically anything with a cord.
The Saunders founded Arnie’s Recon in 2019 to make it easier for people to recycle their electronics and appliances. Arnie’s Recon collects nearly everything with a cord. Their service is free to make it easy for people to recycle. It’s a business with a social ethos and any revenue they make is put back into the business to expand the service and to prevent items going into landfill.
The Bin (pictured below) has now been removed. It was not profitable for Arnie’s Recon to pick up this bin as people were removing items that could be resold or repaired by Arnie’s Recon.
Where Can You Now Recycle Small Appliances Locally?
Arnie’s Recon
You can book a pick-up at your home with Arnie’s Recon.
They collect:
Computers, laptops, mobile phones, computer games and consoles, iPads, tablets, servers and server racks, stereos, speakers, DVD players, iPods, cameras, Foxtel boxes, phones, heaters, fans, amplifiers, monitors, televisions, calculators, transistor and clock radios, printers medical equipment, tools washers, dryers, air conditioners, microwaves, drones, dishwashers, cables, remotes, chargers, old or vintage collectables, batteries, plugs, solar panels, sewing machines, overlockers, steam mops, dehumidifiers.
Feel free to contact them if you have an item, not on the list. ITC contacted them when a local asked if they take coffee machines (they do).
They do not collect:
Rear-projection TVs, fridges, freezers, stoves, ovens, range hoods, barbecues and office photocopiers at this time. Stoves, ovens, and range hoods often have residual food and/or grease and are bio-hazard.
They DO NOT pick up beds, mattresses, furniture, building materials or anything hazardous.
To legally recycle fridges, they need first to be degassed. It costs approximately $120 per standard size fridge to do so. If you are willing to pay for this process and provide a receipt showing them it has been done, they can recycle the fridge.
Large office photocopiers and rear projection TVs are too heavy for their drivers, and they don’t have the equipment to move them safely. You are welcome to drop them off at their warehouse. They can take desktop printers, but they need to be small enough for one person to lift them safely.
Community Recycling Centre
The Community Recycling Centre takes E-Waste and Electronic Equipment such as TV’s – it does not take small appliances such as rice cookers, deep fryers etc. Find out more here.
RecycleSmart
RecycleSmart has just launched in Lane Cove and they will pick up from your home.
They will pick up:
- E-waste
- Small items that use electricity
- Alarm clock
- Angle grinder
- Blender and mixer
- Charger cord
- Computer parts – mouse, keyboard etc.
- Digital cameras
- Disposable Vapes (battery only)
- Electric games, consoles and toys
- Electric grill
- Fan heater
- Hairdryer, electric toothbrush
- Headphones and earphones
- Iron, kettle, toaster
- Laptop, tablets, e-readers
- Mobile phones, mp3 players
- Printer, DVD player
- Small microwave
- Small vacuum cleaner
- Stereos, speakers, radios
- Torches
- Video and DVD player
- Waffle maker
- Wifi modem
They also pick up much more including clothes and books – read more here.
Where Can You Donate Items in Good Condition But No Longer Needed?
The Sydney Library of Things is just like a library, but instead of books, you borrow things. These “things” are everyday household items or objects. It’s a collection of extremely useful but only occasionally used items which are loaned out for a period. It’s about helping to reduce landfill by giving items a new home where they can be borrowed many times.
You can borrow a drill or a disco ball, an air mattress or an air compressor, a metal detector, a high-pressure water cleaner and more.
Are you one of those people who like to try before you buy? If you are, then The Sydney Library of Things is a must!! Don’t go out and buy all that camping gear, only to find you don’t like camping or will only ever be able to fit in one trip a year.
If you like to entertain and need a few extra household items such as a rice cooker, an ice cream machine or extra glasses or a gazebo for outdoor entertaining, you will find them in the library’s catalogue.
The most popular items borrowed so far have been the food dehydrator, paper shredder, camping gear and of course, an old favourite, the water pressure cleaner.
But wait, there’s more… you pay one low quarterly, or yearly membership fee and borrow items without paying an extra borrowing fee. Read more here.
Repair an Electrical Item
The Repair Cafe repairs electrical items such as vacuums, fans and much more. Don’t throw it away – fix it at the Repair Cafe for free. Read more here.
What Do You Do with Items Not Mentioned Above?
In The Cove has put together a guide on where to recycle, donate, sell or dispose of household items correctly – read the guide here.
Help Support Local and Independent News
You can support us in three ways:
- If you own a local business or a Lane Cove resident who owns a business, you can advertise with ITC – our packages start from a $30 monthly fee (for a 12-month commitment). Email us here for our rates card.
- Buy the ITC team a coffee – our office is nearly every coffee shop in Lane Cove, and we regularly meet locals at coffee shops – buy the ITC team a coffee (or two) here.
- Become an ITC reader sponsor – Feel free to be a reader sponsor if you have enjoyed our local news coverage – no amount is too small or too big. Thank you so much to the people who have already supported us via our press Patreon account. Help Us Here.
