By learning the correct way to recycle or dispose of everyday items, we can all make a sustainable future possible together.
By learning the correct way to recycle or dispose of everyday items, we can all make a sustainable future possible together.
In our quest to live sustainably, recycling has become an essential part of daily life. We dutifully separate paper from plastic and glass from metal, striving to be responsible recyclers.
However, despite our best efforts, some everyday items still leave us scratching our heads. According to Cleanaway’s 2024 Recycling Behaviours Report, over a quarter of us find recycling confusing and when asked about them, certain common items remain particularly perplexing.
To set the record straight, we uncovered five such items and shed light on the correct way to recycle or dispose of them.
Mobile phones
Mobile phones are indispensable in modern life, but what do you do when it’s time for an upgrade? Surprisingly, our Recycling Behaviours Report revealed that almost a quarter of us don’t know that batteries and rechargeable devices, including mobile phones, shouldn’t go in kerbside bins.
These devices contain valuable materials like gold, silver and copper that can be extracted and reused. Proper recycling reduces waste, conserves precious resources, and prevents battery fires in waste facilities.
To recycle your old phone, visit major tech retailers like Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone. Alternatively, if you’re hoarding a few phones or tech items like laptops and tablets, use Mobile Muster’s free delivery service through Australia Post.
Takeaway coffee cups
For many, takeaway coffee cups are a morning necessity, but did you know they aren’t recyclable? According to the report, nearly half of Aussies mistakenly toss their cups in the recycling bin when they belong in general waste.
The paper exterior is often lined with plastic to stop the liquid seeping through. It’s very difficult for recycling facilities to separate the layers of the cup, which means it can’t be recycled. If placed in a recycling bin, it’ll be rejected as contaminated waste and go to landfill.
Always opt for your general waste bin, or better yet, switch to a reusable coffee cup to reduce your environmental impact and save yourself the confusion.
Soft plastics
Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, ice cream wrappers, pasta packets, and cling wrap, are commonly used but pose a significant recycling challenge. Unlike many types of hard plastics that can be recycled through our facilities, soft plastics require specialised processing. With 40 per cent of people unsure how to correctly dispose of soft plastics, the current advice is to place them in general waste.
In a recent development, Cleanaway has partnered with Viva Energy Australia to develop a sustainable solution for soft plastics. The joint venture hopes to provide a sustainable solution for soft plastics, helping food manufacturers and packaging specialists cater to the growing environmentally conscious market. It would also provide households and businesses with an alternative to sending these materials to landfill.
For now, opt for paper bags at the supermarket and avoid plastic-wrapped produce when you can.
Paint cans
Renovating your home often leaves you with a pile of paint cans. While the metal components are recyclable, leftover paint can contaminate groundwater and soil. This means the 17 per cent of Aussies placing them in general waste are making a mistake. To recycle paint cans, drop them off at local community recycling centres, check with your local council or visit a Paintback collection point to safely recycle of them.
Packing styrofoam
Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene foam, is commonly used in packaging to protect fragile items during shipping. Styrofoam is not recyclable and when disposed of incorrectly into commingled waste stream, it can break into small pieces that stick to paper and cardboard and cause further contamination.
However, local drop-off points that handle styrofoam recycling responsibly can be found through your local council. Processors can be used to melt down the material to create new products like outdoor furniture, decking, picture frames, and skirting boards.
By learning the correct way to recycle or dispose of everyday items, we can all make a sustainable future possible together.
To find out what other waste items you might be getting tripped up on, visit Cleanaway’s Greenius Learning Portal.
Cleanaway’s Recycling Behaviours Report
For the fourth year running, Cleanaway and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) have conducted research into Australians’ recycling behaviours. These valuable insights on everyday recycling challenges help shape Cleanaway’s priorities when empowering Australians in their recycling decisions.
Since 2017, the CEFC has been working with Cleanaway to support waste education efforts, such as the Recycling Behaviours Report. Through this investment, Cleanaway and the CEFC aim to reduce waste going to landfill and create a sustainable future for Australians.