On our Insta recently, another Recycle Hero asked us about the enigma that is… bin liners. Which got us thinking, what is the deal with plastic, biodegradable or compostable bags, and which one would be the best to use as a bin liner?

Ocean bound plastic is waste that is at risk of ending up in the ocean. Specifically, plastic that is found within 50km of a coastline, or 200m of rivers or shorelines and fishing material that ends up in the ocean.

We asked Angus Ware, Co-Founder of Heliograf, a Sydney based design company about the importance of Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) in a circular economy.

We’re back with another rendition of reasons to hope. This edition has got us feeling really optimistic for the future. We’re extremely grateful for the conservational efforts of our fellow Australians and eco-warriors around the world…Like you!

Did you know that the numbers below that are on plastic containers do not mean recyclable? The number actually indicates the type of plastic or resin. By combining these plastics together, there are actually up to 54,000 different types of plastic.

Anipal creates pet products made from post-consumer plastic bottles. Yona makes 100% recyclable cardboard beds. Their suppliers are also all Australian owned.

Need some peace and quiet? Enjoy these colouring in pages of our beautiful coral reefs and marine life!

Humpback whales are no longer endangered. The mammals have made a major recovery since whaling had largely ended in the 1980s. 30 years ago there were fewer than 300 whales and now there are more than 35,000 in the southern hemisphere.

Sydney is the first city in the world to filter and monitor microplastics in the water 24/7. Sydney is the first pilot city to trial Seabin’s technology for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 12 months at Pyrmont Waterfront.

Just when you thought we couldn’t make recycling any easier, we’ve partnered with Australian Red Cross to donate your old clothes from your doorstep. 

Did you know that the toy industry is the most plastic intensive industry in the WORLD?

Yes it is! With 90% of toys being made from plastic in addition to their use of shiny plastic packaging toys have proven to be a not-so-playful waste.

On the 9th of August the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report was published, providing daunting yet very important information on the current state of our climate.

The information provided in the 3,900-page report can seem a little overwhelming, so we are here to make everybody’s life easier, by summarizing the main takeaways, just for you!

Not sure what to do during the extended lockdown? Join the club.  We asked our audience what their favourite sustainable quarantine activity was and responses such as “staring at the wall” and “sleeping” gave us an indication that people are in dire need of some inspiration. 

So, here it is! Four activities that you can do that are safe, sustainable and more exciting than staring out the window! 

Sydney’s lockdown has cancelled all of our holiday plans and we are (once again) thinking about random hobbies we can pick up to keep ourselves occupied for the next two weeks. 

Before you pull out your baking ingredients, take on our Lock Down Clean Up challenge to declutter your space and get rid of all those tricky waste items you’ve been hiding in your drawers!

Sea Turtle’s have become the “poster boys” for the war against waste given their vulnerability in the face of plastic pollution in our oceans. Whether you’re sick of seeing sea turtles everywhere or are still absolutely obsessed with them (as we are), the hard facts are, soft plastics are harming these beautiful creatures, and we need to take action.

Where did Earth Day come from? Where is it now? What do we do to celebrate?

We’ve got all the answers you need. Let’s get into it! 

Global Recycling Day is on the 18th of March, but we’ve dedicated this whole month to re-learning the fundamentals of recycling.

As you know, Recyclesmart is on a mission to divert waste from landfills and take the pressure off of our environment. On a similar mission to help the environment, that is now a valued partner of ours, is Clean Up Australia!

It is the peak of Australian summer and everyone is out enjoying the sun, dipping into the ocean and ending the day with way too much sand in places where it shouldn’t be.

To anyone who has already taken the steps towards a more sustainable summer, go you! To everyone else, it’s never too late, we’re here to help.

Here are 5 easy ways to soak in the sun AND save the planet this summer!

The most wonderful time of the year has finally arrived! Which is also, unfortunately, the most wasteful time of the year too… In fact, according to the National Storage, Australia’s waste increases about 30% in December (I know, yikes).

As impossible as it sounds however, you can still enjoy all the festivities of Christmas without putting even more pressure on our environment and on yourself

No Waste November is a global Roots & Shoots initiative where people around the world make a commitment to reduce the amount of waste they produce for an entire month. While people in different parts of the world may vary in their definition of “waste ”, everyone can still participate in cutting back.