Recycling guide for Victoria

Although we as Victorians have been recycling forever (1980's), I feel like the rules aren’t communicated often enough!

I decided to write this small guide to help us all do our bit well.

1. Soft plastics

Soft plastics are pretty much anything you can scrunch - like chip packets. They do not belong in the recycling bin as they can get entangled in machinery which disruptions in the recycling process = time & money wasted.

You can however find a local drop off specifically for soft plastic recycling https://www.redcycle.net.au/where-to-redcycle/

2. Ensure that your plastics are put loosely into the bin, this means no bagging of the recycling items. Recycling Victoria says "this is a sure way to get your recycling ending up in landfill".

3. Avoid putting clothing in recycling bin. Donate these to charity.

4. NO POLYSTYRENE

The link below can show you where to recycling and why we don’t put these bad boys in the recycling bin https://www.recycling.vic.gov.au/can-i-recycle-this/polystyrene

5. No food scraps!

These are destined for the food & garden bin. if you live in a small apartment or place where you cannot have garden these bins there are always options. See the link below to find out what to do with food scraps

https://www.recycling.vic.gov.au/can-i-recycle-this/food-scraps

Other tips:

- Remove food or liquids from the container before recycling them they don’t need to be perfect, but a good rinse would be fabulous.

- Set up a system within your household such as a separate bin to pop your recycling in so you don’t have to go outside every time.

- Getting to know the rules of your local council will help you better understand if you are recycling correctly as some councils vary with what they take such as glass in the same bin as other plastic recycling.