Wondering how to get rid of bulk trash? You’ve come to the right place. As Australia’s leading provider of sustainable rubbish removal, Ridly are here to outline the ways in which you can successfully (and responsibly) get rid of a lot of rubbish at once.
In New South Wales, it’s illegal to dump your unwanted household items on the street – you can be fined up to $4000 if you’re caught. Not only is dumping your waste illegal, but it’s also unsafe, unsightly, and frankly, lazy. Within this article, we’re going to break down the importance of recycling your unwanted goods, and the many ways in which you can safely get rid of your bulk waste through removal, recycling, and repurposing.
The Importance of Recycling Bulk Waste
Bulk waste is defined as anything that is difficult to get rid of because of its size, weight, or shape. Generally, this includes old furniture, mats and rugs, electronics, mattresses, white goods, bicycles, gym equipment and all other unwanted, oversized items.
If you’re looking to get rid of bulk waste, recycling is paramount. The more we can reuse, repurpose, and recycle, the less contribution to landfills, and therefore, fewer emissions generated.
During 2018-19, Australians generated a staggering 76 million tonnes of waste. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, half of that waste was correctly recycled, and 27% of the remaining, inevitably, ended up in landfills. 27% alone doesn’t sound all that scary; however, to put that in perspective, that means 20.5 million tonnes of waste was not responsibly recycled and likely ended up in landfills.
Continuous contribution to landfills has a disastrous impact on land, air, and water quality. As organic matter decomposes in large quantities, methane is produced and released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. According to the Environmental Defence Fund, Methane has a warming power 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. 25% of global warming today is driven by methane as a result of human activities, including landfill use.
Recycling your old TV mightn’t seem like a ground-breaking decision, but the decision to avoid landfills at any cost is one that is going to benefit the environment. Making the extra effort to recycle when it’s much easier to dump old bulk items at the tip is a worthwhile step forward for the environment and for the future generations that will inherit it.
So now that we’re clear on what bulk trash is and why it should be recycled, how do you go about getting rid of it? For those in Sydney, there are a number of options for disposing of bulky items.
4 Options for How to Get Rid of Bulk Trash
1. Reuse or Repurpose Your Household Items
Getting rid of a lot of junk is a challenge that can be circumnavigated by changing the way you view items that have passed their use-by date. Instead of viewing old furniture, white goods, or electronics as disposable, learning to repurpose and reuse can give tired items a new lease of life.
With minimal effort, palettes can be reworked into coffee tables, old tires make perfect floating flower beds, and the drum of a washing machine becomes the ideal fire pit. With a little time, energy, and research, almost any household item can be made into something worth keeping. When considering how to get rid of bulk waste through repurposing, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also get an unbeatable sense of accomplishment knowing you’re doing your best for the environment too.
2. Sell or Donate
Have household waste or bulky items that are still in good nick? Try selling or donating your unwanted items!
From much-loved sofas to dusty exercise bikes, selling your unwanted property on second-hand sites like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree is a great way to make sure your items don’t end up in landfills.
It’s worth noting that in some states, bedding, including mattresses, must be cleaned and disinfected by an approved process before being legally re-sold.
Local charities, not for profit organisations, youth shelters, women and children shelters, community centres and op-shops all accept the donation of bulky items if they meet specific requirements. Generally, items have to be fully functional and of a reasonable condition. If you want to donate an item, you’re responsible for making sure it is dropped off at the correct location and is in good working order to be accepted. Get in contact with your local charity or op-shop to find out more specific information.
3. Local Council Collections
Depending on which local government area (LGA) you live in, bulk item collections can be organised through the local waste and recycling service. Some LGAs arrange collections on pre-arranged dates, while other councils allow you to book a pickup at a time that suits you. Some councils will only pick up items under a certain size or weight, and other councils prohibit certain items. In general, for an item to be collected by council workers, it needs to be light enough for two people to handle.
If you live in an apartment building or housing complex, LGA bulk item pickups will usually need to be arranged through building management as individual owners and tenants cannot access these services. For the sake of efficiency, building management may limit bulk item collection to certain times throughout the year, meaning you will have to wait for your items to be collected. If you can’t wait, there are several rescues recovery centres that will accept drop-offs, but usually, you’ll incur a fee for convenience.
4. Get a Professional to Recycle Your Bulky Items for You
Wondering how to get rid of bulk trash quickly, effectively and with minimal effort? We’ve got your covered. There’s a simple and effective option that will allow you to successfully declutter, while also doing your part for the environment: Ridly offer professional waste removal services to get rid of your household junk, and ensure it is responsibly recycled.
Choose Ridly to Recycle Your Bulk Items
How to get rid of bulk trash in the most simple and environmentally friendly way? Book in with Ridly. We will sort and prepare every item we collect for recycling and offer contactless, same day rubbish removal from just $69.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you can’t make a difference as an individual. Each of our individual choices regarding waste disposal contributes to the current recycling situation in Australia. Australian households create 12.4 million tonnes of waste annually; it’s important to step up and do your part to minimise the impacts of this generated waste.
While competing rubbish removal services in Sydney might take your unwanted bulk rubbish straight to landfill, our commitment to our clients and the planet is that we’ll do our best to recycle every single item we collect. Our services are competitively priced, and you can rest assured we’ll re-use, repurpose, and recycle where possible. Our team is committed to recycling today for a better tomorrow.
Ridly offer quick, contactless, affordable, and environmentally rubbish removal across Metro Sydney. Call us on 0491 181 130 or request a quote online for all your household rubbish removal needs.