ITS EAST BEING GREEN

Recycling can be confusing. Most people are trying their best to recycle their waste, but with so many different options, its no wonder we are left scratching our heads. Each year, Western Australians produce 2.5 tonnes of waste per person, with 1.7 tonnes going to landfill and only 800 kilograms being recycled.

Many shires are now providing three different bins to help us divide up our waste for processing. Depending on where you live the recycling process are varied, so here are some helpful tips to help you decide what to do with your household waste.

RECYCLING BIN

There are many benefits to recycling. Recycled conserves resources and reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials, all of which create air and water pollution. Although many people have the best intentions, it's important to remember that putting the incorrect items into the recycling bin can contaminate the rest of the batch.

Always rinse out your items.

When shopping, try and choose items with recyclable packaging (if any at all)

Remove lids from jars and bottles before putting them in the recycling

Leave items loose in the recycling bin and not in bags.

Soiled paper items can’t be recycled, put them in the organics bin instead.

DON’T recycle electronic waste, hazardous materials (medical waste, drugs, partially filled aerosol cans), household items, batteries, non-recyclable glass (wine glasses, mirrors, lightbulbs etc.)

Soft plastics, like bread bags, cannot be put into the recycling. However, there are many locations that you can drop them off for recycling like your local Coles or Woolworths. Try storing them in your reusable shopping bags and dropping them off during your next food shop.

Check your local shires website (links below) for individual recycling requirements.

NON-RECYCLABLE

Australians generated approximately 67 million tonnes of waste a year, and that figure is increasing. A simple way to help reduce this is to think before you put your waste into the red bin. Could it be recycled? Can it go into the organics bin? Can it be used again? Here are some handy tips for your general waste:

*Make simple life choices to reduce waste. Small changes like having reusable bags, lining bins with newspaper and composting at home can make a huge difference to the volume making its way to the local tip.

*Think before you buy - opt for products with minimal or no packaging

*DON’T throw out electronic waste, hazardous materials, batteries etc.

GREEN WASTE

In Australia, we waste more than 30% of the food we purchase. Australian consumers throw away around 3.1 million tonnes of food each year. When rotting food ends up in landfill it turns into methane, a greenhouse gas that is particularly damaging to the environment. Make good use of your green bin for all compostable waste, which even includes lawn clippings, bones, dog poo and compostable bags.

For those of us in the shire of Bunbury and surrounds, green waste is taken to the Stanley Road Waste Management Facility where it is processed and sold by the scoop as compost. What a great way to reuse green waste that would have otherwise gone to the tip.

Alternatively, why not bypass that process and start a compost or worm farm at home. If you have a bin and some extra space, you can easily start a compost that could feed back into your garden. Your excess food won’t go to waste, your garden will be full of nutrients and you can feel better about your impact on the planet. When composting at home remember the 2:1 rule, two parts green waste (like kitchen scraps, grass clippings ) to one part brown waste (like fallen dry leaves and shredded newspaper)

DID YOU KNOW?

*Batteries should never put into your general household waste as they are extremely toxic and can leech into the environment. There are several battery recycling drop off points across Australia, including Aldi.

*It seems to be a common misconception that degradable or biodegradable bags are a suitable alternative to plastic bags. While you think that you are making a better choice, did you know that degradable bags simply break down into smaller and smaller pieces becoming micro plastics?

* The aluminium can is one of the most sustainable packaging solutions available. It protects its contents, is cost-effective and can be recycled after use again and again.

Click the links below for information regarding waste management in your local area:

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