Redlands Coast residents are urged to use National Recycling Week, which runs until 17 November, to ensure their household is disposing of waste sustainably.
Mayor Jos Mitchell said everyday items such as cereal boxes, magazines, glass bottles and cardboard packaging materials were currently ending up in general waste bins when they could be recycled.
“Our audits show that recyclable items make up about 16 per cent of what is disposed of in red-lid general waste bins and subsequently what is being sent to landfill on Redlands Coast each year,” the Mayor said.
“These are items that could otherwise be contributing to the circular economy and taking pressure off our finite natural resources.
“Everybody can help create a greener and more sustainable future for our city by committing to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible at home and in their workplace.
“Council’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2021-2030 sets out a target of reducing waste to landfill by 15 per cent and increasing the amount of materials recycled to 60 per cent by 2030.
“The key to achieving these goals is ensuring all recyclable household items are being placed in your kerbside yellow-lid bin or taken to one of Council’s Recycling and Waste centres.
“Generally speaking, if an item is hard plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminium or steel and comes from your kitchen, laundry or bathroom, it can be recycled.”
The top 10 recyclable items that commonly appear in general waste bins on Redlands Coast are:
- Pizza boxes
- Tuna cans
- Sushi containers
- Dip containers
- Meat trays
- Biscuit trays
- Sauce bottles/jars
- Berry and fruit punnets
- Cereal boxes
- Glossy magazines and catalogues
The Mayor said it was important for households to be aware of the common misconceptions that were contributing to recyclable items ending up in landfill.
“You may have heard that dirty items such as meat trays and bolognese sauce jars are unable to be recycled. This is incorrect,” the Mayor said.
“Just make sure most of the food contents is removed and give the container a quick rinse before placing it in your yellow-lid kerbside bin.
“Council’s recycling contractor cleans and processes these items and then remanufactures them into new packaging, reducing our reliance on new materials and contributing to the circular economy.
“We can all play a role in creating a more sustainable future for our city and it starts with making sure you and others in your household are recycling the right materials.
“If you’re uncertain about what household items can be recycled, visit the Redland City Council website for an A–Z recycling guide or download the Recycle Mate app.”
