Bunnings offering free service to get rid of unwanted items

The hardware store has launched a new service that gets rid of an item that most of us have no clue what to do with.

They’re an item most of us have no idea what to do with when we’ve used them.

Household batteries cannot be recycled via kerbside recycle bins and instead need to go to a specialist battery recycling centre.

But Bunnings stores are now offering free battery recycling drop-off bins, first rolling out the service late last year.

Recycling batteries prevents used batteries from becoming a fire hazard and stops toxic chemicals in some from leaking and causing harm.

Sustainability advocate and journalist Lottie Dalziel shared a video on TikTok about how the service worked.

Ever wondered what to do with your used batteries? Picture:TikTok/@Lottie Dalziel

Turns out you can recycle them at Bunnings. Picture:TikTok/@Lottie Dalziel

“So here’s just another reason to visit Bunnings, they are now offering battery recycling at every single store,” she said in the video.

“This is not just for household batteries but also power tools as well.”

By taking advantage of Bunnings battery recycling program, she said 95 per cent of the battery components can be reused.

The program was praised by customers who said it was “excellent news”.

“Didn’t know that; that’s awesome!” one person commented on the video.

“I have a drawer full of batteries as I’ve never know what to do with them and didn’t want to put it in recycling or rubbish for landfill,” another wrote.

“Officeworks do it as well,” one person wrote.

The drop-off boxes are available at all Bunnings stores. Picture: TikTok/@Lottie Dalziel

Bunnings launched the battery recycling program in November last year following a trial in Victorian stores.

The bins are now available at all Bunnings stores, making it the largest national battery recycling program.

Envirostream Australia is managing the collection and recycling of batteries, which is expected to recycle 240,000kg worth of batteries in the first 12 months alone.

Bunnings director of merchandise Jen Tucker said the program was about customer convenience and reducing the environmental impacts of the products they sell.

The program is expected to recycle 240,000kg of batteries in the first 12 months of the service. Picture: Supplied

“We sell a wide range of batteries, from household to power tool batteries, and this initiative delivers a ‘full circle’ battery recycling program that will keep harmful materials out of the environment and recover valuable resources that can be infinitely recycled,” she said.

“This program is particularly helpful for our trade and DIY customers, with the collection units being purposely designed to also receive power tool batteries.”

A Bunnings spokeswoman told news.com.au the program had been “really positively received by customers”.

“We are seeing great uptake from our trade customers dropping off power tool batteries, as well as our retail customers with household batteries,” they said.

For more information about Bunnings battery program visit the website.