Is your recycling bin being contaminated with items that should be disposed of in another way?
Unfortunately, quite often the wrong items end up in the recycling bin, leading to higher sorting costs and in worse cases, entire loads of recycling being sent to landfill.
It can sometimes be confusing to know how best to dispose of different items, but you can always check the handy A-Z waste guide available on Council’s website, or you can request a hard copy of the Casey Waste Guide be sent to you.
When we notice items being put into the recycling bin that don’t belong there, residents might see a tag on their bins letting them know. This way we can try to reduce contamination of the load and ensure as much as possible can be effectively recycled.
When we recycle right:
- more items can be made into new things (like roads, footpaths, glass jars, planter boxes and park benches)
- valuable resources aren’t wasted in landfill
- we use fewer new or raw materials which is good for the environment.
Remember, whenever possible, refuse excess packaging to help reduce your waste and use the right bin. Every bit makes a difference.
Some of the common items that need to stay out of your recycling bin include:
Soft plastics
These are our worst contaminants. Supermarket shopping bags, bread bags etc. cannot be recycled and should not go into your kerbside recycling bin. Always make sure your recyclables go into the bin loose (not tied up in a plastic bag), to ensure it can be effectively sorted. Currently, around 16 per cent of Victorians put their recycling in plastic bags, making them a major contaminant.
Soft plastics can get caught in the sorting machinery, increasing sorting costs and if the contamination is widespread, resulting in whole loads being sent to landfill.
Textiles
Textiles like clothes and shoes cannot be recycled as part of your fortnightly kerbside collection. If they are in good condition, consider donating them. If not, they need to go into the general waste bin.
Batteries
When batteries are placed in your household bins, they can cause fires in the bins or the trucks that collect them. They also contain toxic substances that are harmful to you, your family and the environment. There are battery collection bins at several locations across Casey including local libraries, Council’s customer service centres and some retail stores.
Polystyrene packaging
Polystyrene, also know as Styrofoam, cannot be recycled as part of your fortnightly kerbside collection. It needs to go into the general waste bin or check the waste guide for nearby collection points.
