Our biggest offenders in recycling

Read below to find out more about how takeaway coffee cups and soft plastics mess up our recycling facilities.

  • Takeaway coffee cups

    Approximately 98% of disposable coffee cups have a plastic lining that can’t be easily separated from the paper, meaning the cups are often rejected as contaminated waste and end up in landfill.

    Be a good sort: Put disposable coffee cups & lids in your red bin. Use a reusable cup for your coffee.

  • Soft plastics

    Soft plastic bags and packaging like cling wrap, pasta packets, bread bags and biscuit trays should never be put in the yellow recycling bin. These items get caught in waste facility machinery causing contamination, damage and disruption to sorting.

    Be a good sort: Put soft plastics in the red bin. Better still, reduce the purchase of soft plastics by choosing items with minimal packaging.

What goes in your bin matters!

Be a good sort! Click on the tiles below to learn more about what to put in each bin.

Confused about how to dispose of your waste?

Simply type the name of an item you would like to know how to dispose of and Recycle Mate will give you disposal advice specific to your location.

Want to learn more?

Here are some great programs, projects and tips to help with reducing our waste.


RECYCLING FAQ + TIPS

Recycling correctly is one of the most useful ways you can help to save resources and reduce waste sent to landfill.

Putting the wrong item in your yellow recycling bin can cause contamination and may result in your recycling ending up in landfill.


Recycling right is easy - just remember these basic rules:

  • Keep it simple - paper, cardboard, aluminium and steel cans, glass bottles and jars and rigid plastic can be recycled
  • Keep out soft plastics - if you can scrunch your plastic into a ball easily it can't go into your yellow recycling bin
  • Keep out small items - nothing smaller than a business card, including lids and never put batteries into the recycling
  • Keep it loose - never in plastic bags or boxes
  • Keep it clean - rinse containers before placing in the yellow recycling bin

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Tip fees & charges

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