recycling
There have been many strategies for recycling that has been come up with by the government. However, that will only go so far until and unless we start doing our bit as well to make sure the ‘recycling rules’ are being followed. This following is a list of tips we’ve compiled to better reuse and recycle our products for a maximum benefit and lessen our overall waste:
1. All recyclables that go into our recycling bin should be clean, dry and empty. Food scraps should not be left in the containers nor should they contain liquids. At the moment our recycling companies are receiving up to 18% contaminated products meaning a big part of our recyclables are turning into rubbish when they shouldn’t have to.
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2. Clench your fist together. If your item is smaller than your fist, it is often too small to be recycled. These items are too small to be picked up by the factory machinery and end up as waste.
3. Make your cardboard boxes flat. This will not only help you to squeeze more into your recycling bins, it helps with the sorting process and stops machines being clogged.
4. Most councils don’t accept soft plastics. This includes bread bags and plastic bags because soft plasticrecycling facilities are not geared to handle plastic bags of any type. Recycle your plastic bags at your local supermarket through the REDcycle program or check with your local council on how to go about it.
5. Don’t put all of your recyclables in one bag. Items such as milk bottles and jars will not be sorted properly as staff at the plants are not able to open these bags for safety reasons.
6. e wasteE-waste is growing at three times the rate of general waste in Australia. A number of programs have been set up to take on our e-waste under a national scheme. PlanetArk and Mobile Muster are two organisations that can help us reuse our e-waste including computers, phones, printer cartridges and batteries.