Blue Mountains News

This recently launched recycling program provides our community with the opportunity to drop their spent household batteries at convenient locations across the LGA and is another step towards achieving Council’s goal of Zero Waste.

To support our community better manage their household and personal waste, Council is also now offering x-ray recycling.

“The Blue Mountains is recognised for leading the transition towards a zero waste community, through focusing on avoid, reuse and recycle and taking responsibility together to enable a circular economy,” Blue Mountains Mayor, Councillor Mark Greenhill, said.

Ninety per cent of Australia’s used batteries end up in landfill, where they leak toxic materials into the environment; B-cycle keeps batteries out of our soils and waterways. Reusing the precious materials in every battery also means mining less from the earth and conserving natural resources. B-cycling creates economic opportunities for recyclers, and strengthens Australia’s energy security for future generations.

B-cycle is a national, Government-backed Scheme run by the Battery Stewardship Council and authorised by the ACCC. The battery industry covers all costs in having the batteries recycled. Although B-cycle is currently a voluntary scheme, all the major battery players in the Australian market have signed up.

While B-cycle is currently only targeting small batteries, the scheme is looking to expand to include batteries from electric vehicles and energy storage systems in future. Council will continue to advocate for this.

“The majority of batteries are, and have always been, recyclable, and the continued lobbying by Councils as a collective has made this scheme a reality,” Mayor Greenhill said.

Residents can drop their batteries in free at Council’s Resource Recovery and Waste Facilities at Blaxland or Katoomba, or at Woolworths in Katoomba and Leura, Aldi in Katoomba and Emu Plains, and Bunnings in Katoomba and Valley Heights. Read more about B-cycle at here.

X-ray films can be dropped off at Katoomba and Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility for recycling. Find other facilities that accept x-rays film by visiting the Recycling Near You website here. Some organisations will accept old x-rays for recycling via mail. X-ray films cannot be accepted in your recycling or green bin.

For more information on Council’s waste services please visit here.Check out Council’s helpful A – Z of waste and recycling at here.

Katoomba Waste Management Facility has reopened (Monday, 21 March) after being temporarily closed last week. Blaxland Waste Management Facility continues to operate at a reduced capacity:

• Only 4 vehicles are allowed to enter the small vehicle area at any one time. (Residents cannot enter the top platform currently).
• The top platform is also only available to four trucks at the one time.

The collection of red bins and booked waste is operating as normal again.