A recent Report by Cleanaway found that 89% of Australians believe recycling is important, and 74% rate themselves as good or very good recyclers. Despite this positive attitude, our recycling collection and quality remain low. Research suggest that misconceptions and lack of knowledge around recycling may be compromising our recycling efforts.
Are you wildly confused about what we can and can’t recycle? Paper towels? Bottle tops? Plastic forks? Toothpaste tubes? Broken glass or smashed crockery?
Here are 5 simple tips to help you get your recycling act together.
Recycle Right #1: Keep it simple
Only recycle:
- Hard plastic bottles and containers
- Glass bottles and jars
- Steel and aliminium cans
- Paper and cardboard
Recycle Right #2: Keep out soft
Keep out:
All scrunchy plastic, including, garbage bags, plastic bags, plastic wrapping, or packets.
These belong in the landfill bin as they get stuck in sorting machines.
Recycle Right #3: Keep out small
Keep out:
- bottle lids
- bread tags
- bottle tops
Don't place anything smaller than a credit card into your recycling bin.
Recycle Right #4: Keep out food scraps
Keep out:
- NO food scraps
- NO soiled paper or cardboard
- NO compostable cups or packaging
Tip out excess food, drink from your containers, bottle etc. Food scraps can spoil recyclable materials so ensure all food remnants are removed before recycling.
Recycle Right #5: Compostable does not mean recyclable
Nope! Compostable plastics are not the same as regular plastics and can't be recycled.
Use the organics bins around campus to send compostable packaging and food scraps to compost. This include:
- food scraps
- compostable coffee cups
- compostable food conatiners
- paper towles, napkins and tissues
