Spring cleaning the environmentally friendly way

Summer is just around the corner, which means if you haven't already done your spring cleaning for the year, you only have a few weeks left up your sleeve to get it done!

A thorough clean around the property can be as good as a renovation or garden landscaping project, with the removal of clutter freeing up space you may have forgotten about.

Broken bits of furniture, neglected toys and redundant gardening equipment can all be an eyesore, so why not load up the trailer and make a trip to the rubbish dump with these items? It is amazing what some de-cluttering can do for the aesthetics of a home.

Many people can be reluctant to get rid of outdated electronic devices - not wanting to throw away working pieces into the rubbish.

Sydneysiders with this problem may want to take advantage of the city's free electronic waste collection taking place on December 2.

City of Sydney resource recovery manager Leisha Deguara said disposing of e-waste incorrectly can be potentially damaging to the environment.

"Residents should know that computer screens and TVs contain toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury and arsenic. Dumping them or putting them in landfill means these chemicals can leach out into our waterways," Ms Deguara explained.

"Residents can skip the tip or the nature strip and do the right thing by bringing their old TVs and computers to our Bay Street depot for recycling."