Refuse reuse recycle

Most people want to do the right thing and recycle responsibly. Sometimes it is not clear what is and is not recyclable.  Recycling waste sometimes ends in landfill because it is contaminated.  Knowing what you can and can’t recycle and sorting your recycling responsibly is one way to ensure this does not happen.

• Check plastics for the recycling symbol – numbers 1, 2 and 5 go in the recycling bin
• Polystyrene (number 6) can be dropped at the Transfer Station free of charge
• Do not put soft plastics in the recycling
• Remove excess food from containers
• Aluminium foil and trays go in the recycling bin
• Aerosol cans go in the recycling bin
• Remove lids – often containers and lids are made of different materials
• Put items in the recycle bin loose, not in plastic bags
• Don’t bundle or tie paper or cardboard, just put it in the bin loose

Lids

• Plastic lids go in the Teracycle box outside the church op shop
• Metal bottle tops can be placed in a tin, squeezed shut and put in the recycling bin
• Metal jar lids can go straight into the recycling

Soft Plastics

• These are plastics you can scrunch up in your hand, such as plastic shopping bags, biscuit wrapping, cling wrap, bubble wrap, lolly wrappers and chip packets. At the moment they go in the rubbish bin. Hopefully Coles or Woolworths up the coast will soon start recycling these items again, but for now they go in the red bin!

Cardboard Cartons

• Long life milk and juice cartons go in the general waste bin
• Fresh milk and juice cardboard cartons go in the recycling bin

For further valuable information download East Gippsland Shire Council’s Waste Wise publication (PDF 13.5MB)  or pick up a hard copy from the Mallacoota Information Centre.