You would not think to drop off a donkey’s head and a samurai sword at the local waste facility, but bizarre finds like these have turned up in council clean-ups across NSW.

Fortunately, Kiama’s community takes pride in responsible waste disposal, leading by example in appropriate waste removal.

However, we do need to talk about what you can and cannot dispose of, especially when it comes to e-waste.

Kiama Council’s nine-day bulky waste event at the Minnamurra Depot is a fantastic opportunity for residents to clear out unwanted household items responsibly.

This year, Council is placing a major focus on the dangers of incorrect battery disposal, a growing concern as more devices contain lithium-ion batteries.

Many everyday objects, including children’s toys, electric toothbrushes and Christmas lights, contain these batteries.

Tossing them into the kerbside bin is a dangerous mistake. If damaged or crushed, they can cause fires in waste facilities.

Council’s Waste Management Officer, Josephine St John, urges residents to take extra care.

“Our Household Bulky Waste event has been embraced by the Kiama community. But to ensure it remains safe, we need everyone to dispose of batteries properly and check what they are throwing out.”

Council has updated its website and social media channels with clear guidelines on what can and cannot be accepted, ensuring that residents booking a drop-off slot know exactly how to dispose of their waste safely.

While Kiama is making strides in responsible waste disposal, NSW is lagging behind on e-waste regulation, according to Kiama MP Gareth Ward.

Ward is now drafting legislation to ban e-waste from landfill, bringing NSW in line with Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, which have already committed to bans.

“We can make finite resources become infinite. Almost everything in e-waste can be recycled, but in NSW, we are still throwing it in landfill,” Ward said.

Australia generates 20 kilograms of e-waste per person, double the OECD average, yet there is still no hard ban on disposing of electronics in landfill.

Ward has drawn attention to Wade Cauley, a local entrepreneur with a disability, whose business Rekindle Bee collects and recycles e-waste.

Wade employs others with disabilities and was at risk of shutting down due to a lack of government support. A community appeal helped him secure the funds needed to keep his business running.

“If we are serious about reducing waste and supporting small businesses like Wade’s, we need policy changes. The government has to step up,” Ward said.

Beyond responsible disposal, the bulky waste event also features the hugely popular Up4Grabs shed, a community-driven initiative that rescues thousands of unwanted items from landfill.

Surfboards, bicycles, furniture, books and camping gear all find new homes rather than becoming waste.

This initiative not only reduces landfill waste but also helps residents access items they might not otherwise afford.

With Waste and Cleaning staff receiving additional training ahead of the event, Kiama Council is ensuring a smooth and safe operation.

Guy Stearn from Council’s Waste Team says:

“Our teams are trained and ready to go, but we need all of our community members to stay vigilant and correctly dispose of their items.”

So, book your slot, sort your waste and let us keep Kiama’s clean-up effort free from unwanted surprises.

No samurai swords or other oddities, please.