We all want to do the right thing, but recycling – especially anything that is made of more than one material – can be confusing. There’s hard plastics attached to soft plastics, paper that also feels like plastic, and what bin do toothpaste tubes belong in? Thankfully, the retailers at Chatswood Chase want to take the guesswork out of recycling, especially those items that can’t just go in the coloured bins at home. Here we break down three easy-to-use in-store initiatives that are good for the planet, your conscience and sometimes your wallet too.  

Nespresso 

Nespresso is making it easier than ever for customers to recycle their pods with a free in-store recycling service. Simply collect a complimentary recycling bag from the Chatswood Chase boutique, fill it to the line, and drop it in the box during your next visit. The best part? The pods are made out of aluminium, a resource which can be recycled endlessly when done properly.

Apple 

Recycling your tech is good for the environment because it reduces electronic waste, conserves resources, and minimises the need for raw material extraction and energy consumption in manufacturing new products. With Apple Trade In – Apple’s in-store recycling service – you can get credit for your current device and apply it towards a new one. If your device isn't eligible for credit, they'll recycle it for you for free.

David Jones 

Thanks to their new partnership with Terracycle, customers can now drop off hard-to-recycle beauty packaging to dedicated bins in-store, where it will then be collected by TerraCycle for recycling. Materials that can be recycled as part of the initiative include pumps, glass bottles, jars and pots, along with make-up products including foundation bottles, eyeshadow compacts, mascara tubes and more. Once collected, the plastics will be sorted, shredded, melted down and turned into plastic pellets that can be used to make new items.