Our kitchen bins get filled with all kinds of rubbish day after day, everything from food wrappers to pet waste to receipts. If it can’t be recycled or composted, this is where it ends up. It’s essentially the catchall for any miscellaneous clutter you collect from around the home.
But did you know that some things can’t go in your household waste? Whether it’s for safety or environmental reasons, there are all kinds of everyday items that shouldn’t be headed for landfill. We’ve rounded up five of them here, along with how best to dispose of them, so you know what to do going forward.
Before we begin, we should stress that your local council’s rules on some of the below items may vary. It’s best to look on their website or contact them directly for guidance on disposal if you’re unsure.
Batteries
Batteries are a no-go for the bin because there’s a chance that they could catch fire in transit. If they’re crushed, damaged or heated during processing, they can ignite and become a hazard. In fact, according to Recycle Your Electricals, more than 1,200 fires were started in 2023 in lorries and waste centres because of this.
Batteries can also leach toxic chemicals into the water and soil as they degrade, so they must be disposed of properly. It’s easy to do this – large supermarkets offer recycling bins to collect and dispose of batteries. Or, failing that, your local recycling centre will accept them.
Small appliances
For similar reasons, small appliances should never go in the bin – and that includes electricals that contain hidden batteries, such as shavers and electric toothbrushes. These items are recyclable, so chucking them in household waste both risks fires and wastes resources. You can use Recycle Your Electricals to find local recycling points. You can also use this site to find locations to recycle the cables, too, so there’s less clutter around the home.
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Pressurised cans
Pressurised cans, such as hairspray or deodorant, can’t go in the bin. If they’re pierced, crushed or subjected to heat, they can explode from the pressure and catch fire where the contents are flammable. If the liquid is toxic, like you might find in an oven cleaner or an insecticide, that same fluid can also leak into the ecosystem.
Any pressurised cans should be recycled only when they’re completely empty – there should be no hissing when you press the trigger. You would need to check your local council accepts them from kerbside collections or otherwise take them to a recycling centre. If there’s still fluid inside and you’re not going to use it, a hazardous waste recycling centre is where it needs to go.
Household cleaners
While most household cleaners aren’t pressurised, they still contain plenty of chemicals – chemicals that will run into the soil and water from landfill where the packaging is damaged. These often get tossed when we’ve had them for a few years and there’s still solution left, but the performance has waned.
Rather than chucking them in the bin or tipping them down the drain, you need to organise a hazardous waste collection for chemical cleaners or take them to a hazardous waste recycling centre. If the cleaner is still usable, there’s also the option of offering it out to friends, family and neighbours.
Paint
Paint absolutely cannot go in household waste. First, it contains chemicals, including polymers and solvents, that you don’t want leaching into the environment – these toxins would threaten wildlife. Second, should it leak in transit or at the waste site, it can pose a safety risk to drivers and workers. And third, it’s another flammable liquid that could catch fire during processing.
It’s an obvious no for the bin. Instead, you should check with your local council on what to do as guidance on disposal can vary. Some accept water-based paint at household waste recycling centres, but you may have to harden or mix it with something first (like sawdust). Oil-based paint is classed as hazardous and you will need to check the site accepts it. Some hazardous waste recycling centres will take paint for reuse – you can use Recycle Now to find a local site. Otherwise, you can use Community RePaint to donate your leftovers.
