Recycling bin FAQs

Why can we no longer include glass in this bin?

Broken glass contaminates paper, cardboard, plastic and metal making them less valuable and more difficult to recycle. Keeping glass separate has a huge impact on the quality of other recyclable materials, and will help create a more resilient and environmentally responsible collection service for our community.

 

Can I get a bigger, smaller or extra recycling bin?

You sure can.

There is no cost to downsize bins.

If you would like an extra recycling bin there is a yearly fee.

If you would like a larger recycling bin there is a once-off fee.

View the forms and costs - https://au.openforms.com/Form/c357cfe3-29ac-491c-9596-684029f92aa3 

https://au.openforms.com/Form/0f1915c6-454a-4029-83ee-12d0288f2c3a 

 

 

 

What do you mean by plastics numbered 1, 2 or 5?

Plastics usually have a number on them in a little triangle. 

This indicates the type of plastic it is, NOT whether or not it can be recycled.

Our recycling processor accepts plastic with the number 1, 2, or 5 on it only.

All other plastic must go in the landfill bin, including soft plastic bags and wrappers. 

What is coated paper?

Coated paper has a coating of wax or plastic to keep it from getting wet. Often this is seen in paper plates and takeaway food containers. It is not recyclable in the kerbside bin and must go in the landfill bin.

Can I recycle long life milk cartons/coated cardboard?

Coated cardboard has a coating of wax or plastic to keep it from getting wet.

Often this is a container designed to hold liquids, like long life milk cartons or ice cream containers.

As the cardboard is bonded to the plastic or wax, it is not recyclable in the kerbside bin.

It might have a little recycling symbol on it, but it still needs to go in the landfill bin.

Can I put lids in this bin? 

To go in the recycling bin:

✅ PLASTIC LIDS need to have the recycling symbol with the numbers 1, 2 or 5 AND be bigger than a credit card.

✅ METAL LIDS need to be ferrous (which means they can be picked up by the sorting magnets), OR they need to be bigger than a credit card.


lids.jpg

Let's look at the lids in this picture:

❌Hot chocolate canister lid (bigger than a credit card but has the number 4 in a triangle, which is not accepted).

❌ Wine bottle top (Smaller than a credit card, and since it's aluminium it isn't magnetic and the machines won't pick it up)

✅ Jam jar lid (big enough AND magnetic)

❌ Orange juice jug lid (has the number 4 on it, which is not accepted, and it's too small)

❌ Laundry detergent lid (big enough, but I can't see a number in a triangle. When in doubt, leave it out.)

✅ Beer bottle cap (it may be tiny, but it's ferrous so will be snatched up by the magnet on the sorting line)