What can and can’t go in the recycling bin can be confusing and recent reports about the “waste crisis” have reduced the trust Aussies have in council kerbside recycling.
At a local level what gets recycled can change and also vary from council to council.
Planet Ark research shows a downward trend in the understanding of what can be recycled, it’s clear that there are many recycling myths out there.
With that in mind, for National Recycling Week this year, Planet Ark are becoming Recycling Mythbusters so that you can reduce waste and trust that you’re recycling correctly.
In November 1996, Planet Ark founded National Recycling Week to bring a national focus to the environmental benefits of recycling.
Now in its 24th year, this annual campaign continues to educate and stimulate change, by promoting kerbside, industrial and community recycling initiatives and giving people the tools to minimise waste and manage material resources responsibly at home, work and school.
Schools Recycle Right
Get involved
With Australians producing 1 tonne of plastic waste every minute and the plastics recycling rate only 11.8 per cent, what positive actions can you take?
Whether it’s hosting a swap party for friends, setting up a new workplace recycling system or just improving your knowledge and understanding of recycling, there’s plenty of ways you can get involved and get recycling.
Schools have been taking part in the Recycle Right Challenge. Planet Ark provided free recycling activity guides, lesson plans and Australian school event ideas, designed to engage students and teachers to learn by doing and having fun.
This is a great opportunity to get your workplace involved in recycling programs and other sustainability initiatives. Having recycling programs in place is not only good for the environment but research shows that it is also good for staff morale.
Buy it back day
Planet Ark’s Buy It Back Day will be on Saturday, November 16 and is a day for everyone to celebrate National Recycling Week with mindful purchasing by buying something second hand or buying a product made from recycled material.
Reduce, reuse, recycle: Planet Ark launched recyclingnearyou.com.au in November 2006. Here you can find out about what you can and can’t recycle.
We’ve got plenty of ways for people to get involved and get recycling
Planet Ark
- Overly packaged items at the supermarket such as vegetables in plastic wrapping or on foam trays
- Say no to plastic straws in cafes and bars
- Say no to plastic cutlery
- Buy in bulk where possible and bring your own containers.
Reduce and reuse:
- Swap your disposable coffee cups for a reusable one
- Swap single-use plastic bags for reusable bags
- Bring your own lunch to work and reduce take away container use
- Instead of cling wrap consider using beeswax wraps or a reusable alternative.
Check out the recycling programs at terracycle.com.au or you can read more tips at recyclingnearyou.com.au