How to Recycle Hair Accessories in Australia
By Lottie Dalziel, Founder of Banish · Last updated: April 2026
Hair accessories are one of those items that silently accumulate in drawers, on bathroom shelves, and at the bottom of bags until there’s a drawer so full you can’t open it. When they eventually get tossed, almost all of them end up in landfill.
Bobby pins are too small for kerbside sorting machinery. Elasticated hair ties are rubber compounds that don’t fit neatly into any standard recycling stream. And plastic combs and clips? Also landfill-bound, typically.
What BRAD accepts
You can recycle the following through BRAD:
- Pumps from shampoo and conditioner bottles
- Plastic tubes under 150ml
- Glass serum bottles and droppers
Non-recyclable hair accessories
- Plastic combs and wide-tooth combs
- Plastic hair clips, jaw clips, snap clips, and barrettes
- Bobby pins and kirby grips (plastic-coated)
- Hair ties and elastics (rubber or elastomer)
- Plastic headbands and hairbands
- Plastic hair pins and hair slides
- Plastic curling rods and foam rollers
- Plastic packaging from hair accessories (blister packs, card-backed plastic)
Not accepted by BRAD but could be recycled
- Metal bobby pins or hair clips without plastic coating (these can go to a scrap metal recycler)
- Wooden or bamboo combs and accessories (compostable — check your council’s FOGO guidelines)
- Hair extensions (synthetic or human hair — these require a specialist pathway)
Why hair accessories can’t go in the yellow bin
Small plastic items like bobby pins are too tiny to be sorted by automated kerbside sorting machinery. They fall through sorting screens and contaminate other recyclable streams or simply pass through to landfill. Hair ties are rubber compounds, which aren’t accepted in any kerbside stream. Combs and clips, while technically plastic, are often too small or the wrong shape to be sorted effectively.
BRAD consolidates these items and routes them to specialist recyclers who can handle them at scale.
How to collect hair accessories for BRAD
- Start a dedicated container in your bathroom. A small box is perfect for collecting. When it’s full, add to your BRAD box.
- Check pockets and bags. Hair ties and bobby pins migrate everywhere. Do a sweep of coat pockets, bags, and the back of drawers.
- Combine with other BRAD items. Hair accessories are very lightweight. Mix them with other BRAD items like blister packs, beauty packaging, and toothbrushes to maximise your label allowance.
How to recycle with BRAD: step by step
- Purchase a BRAD Pre-Paid Label. Labels are $18 for up to 2kg, or $30 for up to 4kg. Price includes postage and the full cost of recycling.
- Check your inbox. Within 2 hours you’ll receive an email with a form to complete. You’ll need your order number from your purchase confirmation.
- Fill in the form and download your prepaid label. Complete the form and print or save your Australia Post label.
- Pack and post. Attach the label to your box and drop it at a red Australia Post box or your local post office.
- Track your parcel. Follow its journey to Banish.
BRAD Sydney drop-off: Prefer to drop off in person? Visit the Banish Sustainability Hub at Sydney’s Central Station. Open Tuesday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Drop-off costs $10 per 2kg.
Sustainable hair accessory alternatives
If you’d like to reduce the amount of hair accessory waste you generate, here are some swaps worth considering:
- Wooden or bamboo combs — biodegradable and long-lasting
- Fabric hair ties — longer life, less rubber shedding
- Metal hair pins and clips — recyclable via scrap metal when worn out
- High-quality plastic accessories that are designed to last rather than low-cost fast-fashion versions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bobby pins go in the recycling bin?
No. Bobby pins are too small for kerbside sorting machinery and will end up in landfill even if placed in the yellow bin.
Can hair ties be recycled?
Standard kerbside recycling can’t handle hair ties they’re rubber compounds, not standard plastics.
Do I need to clean shampoo before sending?
A quick check is enough. Remove any hair that’s tangled in clips or combs hair itself isn’t accepted and will add to the weight of your parcel unnecessarily.