Don’t let your recycling efforts go to waste
For Australians, separating our plastic, glass and cardboard into our kerbside recycling bin is a habit so familiar we don’t even have to think about it. When we think a bit deeper than the obvious stuff like milk bottles or glass jars, the details start to get a little hazy.
So, we visited a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) - we were very excited about this. It’s basically like going to Santa’s workshop for us! Then, we asked you on our Instagram story what you wanted to know.
How is the recycling sorted?
At the MRF, the recycling materials are sorted into different types. The sorting process is done by hand or using automated technology. It goes along the lines of…
Oversized contaminants are removed
Bottles and cardboard are separated
Aluminium cans are separated by a magnet
Plastic bottles are sorted by type and then materials are baled to be sent to recyclers
What’s it like? Give us a tour!
What happens to the recycling?
After processing, the recycled materials are sold to manufacturers who use them to make new products. For example, recycled paper may be used to make new newspapers, cardboard boxes, or tissue paper. Recycled plastic may be used to make new plastic bottles, toys, or containers.
How much of our recycling goes to landfill?
The recycling rate at the MRF is 80%. The remaining 20% is due to contamination.
Contamination is when non-recyclable materials, such as food waste or plastic bags, are mixed in with recyclable materials. This can “contaminate” the entire batch of recycling and make it difficult to process, which may result in the entire bin going to landfill. Contamination can also increase the cost of recycling and reduce the value of the recycled materials.
By placing uncontaminated materials (for example, a plastic bottle with no liquid in it) in your recycling bin, you ensure that the materials can be recycled to the best possible quality it can be.
How do we make the MRF workers' lives easier?
Dangerous items or contamination will be removed manually by a real person. Placing hazardous things like broken glass or batteries in your recycling bin poses a great OH&S risk to not only MRF workers, collection truck drivers but also to the community.
You can help MRF workers by only putting the correct things in the recycling bin. The rules of what exactly goes in your recycling bin differs in each council. Check on your councils website directly, or download our app. You’ll gain access to Recyclopedia; a database that tells you what does (and doesn’t) go in your council recycling bin.
Do I have to clean my recycling?
The recycling gets cleaned when it is processed. However, when putting things in the recycling bin, the material should be:
Relatively clean (little/no food or liquid inside)
Dry (wet material can cause mould)
What shouldn’t I put in the recycling bin?
Plastic bags & soft plastics (unless your council has a specific recycling program for recycling soft plastics in kerbside bins)
Food
Broken glass
Batteries
Clothes
Polystyrene
Electronics
RecycleSmart collects soft plastics, clothes, e-waste, polystyrene and more from resident’s doorsteps. Find out more here.
