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The trick to recycling right is knowing the difference between hard and soft plastics
It’s important to know that hard plastics go into your yellow-lidded recycling bin and soft plastics go into your red-lidded general waste bin or can be recycled through REDcycle at your local Woolworths and Coles Supermarkets.
Hard plastics are processed at your local MRF (Material Recovery Facility), they items are then turned into recycled products.
Unfortunately, soft plastics are unable to be processed at your local MRF because they create mechanical issues for the machinery, however for those “keen” recyclers, you are able to drop them off at the REDcycle bins in your local area, otherwise they must go into your red-lidded general waste bin.
Click HERE for more info on REDcycle.
1. Soft plastics – Some plastics look firm but are actually classed as a soft plastic and cannot be recycled in your yellow-lidded recycling bin, into the red-lidded general waste bin or REDcycle for these items.
2. Hard plastics – These are commonly found around the home, if plastic is moulded or hard and is a household item it goes in the yellow-lidded recycling bin.
3. Scrunch test – The easy way to tell if plastic is soft or hard is the scrunch test. If it scrunches into a ball it’s soft, if it holds it’s shape it’s hard.
4. Separating combination packaging – Some household products are packaged with a combination of hard and soft plastics and even cardboard. It is important to separate into the appropriate bins.
5. Hard Plastics Items – Can be found all around your household, including your bathroom and laundry. The above items are examples of laundry items that go into your yellow-lidded recycling bin once empty.
6. Recycle symbols can be confusing – Some indicate the packaging is recyclable or made from recycled plastic while others identify the type of plastic the packaging is made from. It’s important to remember that not all plastics which have a symbol on them are recyclable in your yellow-lidded recycle bin.
7. Look for Planet Ark’s Australasian Recycling Labelling for a trusted evidence-based system for Australia and New Zealand. It provides you with easy to understand recycling information when you need it most. It removes confusion, saves you time and reduces waste going to landfill. More information on the Australasian Recycling Label click here
Halve Waste is an initiative of Albury City Council, City of Wodonga, Federation Council and the Shires of Towong, Greater Hume, Indigo and Alpine Shire Councils. The goal of Halve Waste is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by 50%.
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