In Newcastle, we use a 3-bin system to separate waste at home. Garden organics (green bin), and glass, plastic, paper, and metals (yellow bin) are sorted separately from landfill waste. This system has been in place in our homes and many workplaces for decades.
This is called ‘source separation’ and is simply the practice of individuals sorting waste materials at the point of disposal, such as in their home or office. This increases the likelihood that recyclable materials are redirected from landfill, reducing contamination, and improves efficiency of processing to create a more reliable feedstock.
Over time, we have also introduced source separated solutions for batteries (drop off points found in ALDI and Officeworks), e-waste (drop off points at Summerhill Waste Management Centre and Awaba Waste Management Facility), and the Return and Earn program for bottles and cans (found at multiple locations across NSW).
These incremental changes in our waste disposal habits have been contributing to the circular economy, enabling us to treat waste as a valuable resource that can be used again and again. Rather than the traditional ‘take-make-waste’ model, the circular economy focuses on designing out waste, keeping resources in use for longer, and regenerating natural systems. By closing the loop on production and consumption cycles, this model aims to minimise environmental impact, reduce resource depletion, and promote economic growth through innovation and resource efficiency. It encourages practices such as recycling, reusing, refurbishing, and sharing, fostering a system where the lifecycle of products is extended, and natural resources are preserved for future generations.
Recycling programs at The Full Circle Collective
The Reconnect Project
The Reconnect Project mission is to give pre-owned mobile devices a new life by providing them to people in need. They accept donations of unwanted and damaged phones, tablets, and laptops, provide quality repair services, and distribute them to people in desperate need.
There are an estimated 23 million mobile phones sitting unused in drawers and garages all over Australia, plus tablets and laptops that have broken or been put aside in favour of a newer model. With a simple repair, secure erasure of data and an overall clean, these devices are ready for (re)connecting people to family, friends and essential services, and help close the digital divide in Australia.
You can drop your unused mobiles, laptops, and tablets to The Reconnect Projects secure lockbox at The Full Circle Collective during business hours.
TerraCycle
TerraCycle offers innovative solutions for hard-to-recycle waste. One of their most impactful initiatives is the Free Recycling Programs, which empower individuals and communities to take meaningful action against waste.
TerraCycle’s Free Recycling Programs are designed to make recycling accessible to everyone. These programs are funded by brands, manufacturers, and retailers, allowing consumers to recycle items that would otherwise end up in landfills. From beauty product packaging to oral care waste, TerraCycle’s programs cover a wide range of commonly used, hard-to-recycle items.
The Full Circle Collective are excited to announce that we now have the following TerraCycle collection points in our 437 Hunter Street store:
- Dish and Air Care Recycling Program: Accepts any brand of dish and air care packaging.
- Garnier Green Beauty Recycling Program: Accepts any brand of skincare product packaging.
- Gillette Razor Recycling program: Accepts any brand of razor blades and their packaging.
- GLAD® Food Care Recycling Program: Accepts any brand of used food care.
- L’OR, Moccona, Campos & Jed’s Capsules Recycling Program: Accepts L’OR, Moccona, Campos & Jed’s coffee capsules.
- NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® Capsule Recycling Program: Accepts plastic NESCAFÉ® capsules.
- Schwarzkopf Cares Hair Aerosol Recycling Program: Accepts any brand of used hair care aerosols.
- Schwarzkopf Cares Hair Care & Colour Recycling Program: Accepts any brand of used hair care & colour packaging
Coming soon…
- Polyester recycling with Resourceful Living
- Donate your Return and Earn funds to our not-for-profit organisation!
How can you get involved?
- Begin collecting the specified waste items in separate containers at home, or in your school or workplace.
- Bring your waste collections into The Full Circle Collective and separate them into the specified containers.
- When the required minimum volume is acquired for each waste stream, our team will send it to on for recycling. Or, if you have collected the required minimum volume at home, you can download a shipping label from TerraCycle’s website and send it yourself.
- Many of the collection programs offer incentives, such as TerraCycle points, which can be redeemed for donations to a not-for-profit organisation of your choosing, such as The Full Circle Collective!
Through education and awareness raising, these programs are helping to tackle the confusion around recycling and making it easier to find reliable waste streams for our tricky to recycle items. As a result, the collective action created by community members separating waste items at the source of their disposal is enhancing the efficiency of recycling, reducing contamination, and ensuring that more materials are properly recycled, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy. This not only benefits the environment but also strengthens community bonds and fosters a culture of sustainability which is bound to have a ripple effect in your community.
