The Art of Recycling – Are You Doing it Correctly?

I am not ashamed to admit that Mr ITC and I have had some fights about what should be recycled and what goes into general waste. Our biggest disagreements are over pizza boxes and milk lids. Apparently, we are not alone. According to Recycle Smart a recent survey revealed that 99% of residents are still unsure how to recycle some household items. 

Beside pizza boxes, other articles that cause confusion are Pringle tins, aerosols, tea bags and aluminum foils.

Pringle Tins – No

Aerosols – Yes

Tea Bags – No

Aluminum Foil – clean foil scrunched in a ball is recyclable.

With this in mind, late last year Recycle Smart released the Recycle Smart app. This app allows you to search over 170 different items to see if you are allowed to recycle them in your local council area.

recycle smart app
Source: Recycle Smart

The first thing I searched was pizza boxes. I found out that if the pizza boxes are clean they can be recycled.

pizza recycling

If you are not an app person, this table from the Lane Cove Council Website is a handy reference guide.

In the YELLOW BIN

Remove lids and rinse all containers before placing in the bin.

Plastic Containers Plastic drink and milk bottles and lids, berry and tomato type punnets, margarine containers, coffee cup lids, hard plastic biscuit and cake trays, empty plastic containers (liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner containers), empty plastic medicine bottles, and empty washing detergent bottles.

Lane Cove Council does not accept plastic bags or other soft plastics that are scrunchable. These include chip wrappers, plastic bread bags and plastic biscuit packets.

Glass All see-through glass bottles and jars made of green, brown and clear glass are recyclable.

Glasses not accepted for recycling include ceramics and porcelain, broken glass of any kind, white (Malibu) glass, Pyrex cookware, mirrors or windows, light globes, sheet glass or poison bottles.

Aluminium & Steel Cans Aluminium and steel cans (including aerosols) are accepted.
Milk/Juice Cartons Plastic milk and juice containers are accepted, however paper/cardboard containers are not accepted (into BLUE bin)
Unacceptable Material Your recycling bin may be stickered and left if it contains any of the following:
Disposable nappies, syringes, food scraps, garden waste, or plastic shopping bags.

 

It is interesting to note that as much as a half of all municipal waste goes to landfill. Planning ahead, opening food as you go and not over-catering are ways to reduce food landfill. You can also start composting and Lane Cove Council has a free worm farm for you – full details are here.

Last year, Planet Ark  launched a new Australian Recycling Label, which was designed to address both customer confusion and the desire for on-pack information. The label is made up of a simple diagram, which provides clear instructions about the recyclability of each component of the pack. So far only Officeworks and Blackmores have adopted this labelling system.

Source: Planet Ark
Source: Planet Ark

What other recycling options are there in Lane Cove?

The Community Recycling Centre located at 8 Waltham Street in Artarmon and it is a one-stop shop for safely disposing of problem household wastes such as paint, gas bottles, e-waste or motor oil and household oil and more.  In other words, problem wastes that can’t be collected via council kerbside waste or recycling collection services all year round.

It is a free service and is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 8am-2pm and weekends from 8am-4pm.  You can find out more here.

 


Do you have a local issue you would like help with? ITC is here to help just email us at [email protected]

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