Waste and Recycling
Approximately 3000 tonnes of solid waste is generated each day in south-east Queensland.
It’s easy to reduce your household waste with some forward planning and knowing where you can reuse or recycle many household items.
For example, steel and aluminium cans 100 percent recyclable, they can be recycled over and over again, to make anything from cars and car parts, sliding door frames and bicycles to more cans, without any loss of quality.
However, it is not only supermarket items that can be recycled – aluminium pots and pans, cutlery, crockery, fridges and furniture are just some of the other things that can be reused or recycled.
There are a range of actions you can take to minimise your waste.
Shopping
- Use environmentally-friendly reusable bags when you go to the supermarket
- Where possible, buy refillable products and containers you can use over and over again for products like hand soap and laundry detergents
- Look for products that have reduced packaging or packaging that is able to be recycled
- More and more products are now being made from recycled material – for example some toilet papers are made from recycled paper and cardboard. Look for these products and help support the recycling market
- Plastic bags can be recycled at your local shopping centre. Various websites, including Clean Up Australia, and individual supermarket websites have information on alternatives to plastic bags or how you can recycle plastic bags properly
Around the house
- Look for ways to reduce the amount of food waste you generate. Almost half of our waste bin is food scraps and other organic material such as tree branches and grass clippings
- Ask your local Council for information about setting up a compost heap or worm farm (check with your local Council first)
- Use your kerbside recycling bin properly and only recycle items that can go into that bin. If you are unsure, check with your local Council on what can and can’t go in the recycling bin
- All rigid plastic bottles and containers (except styrofoam), glass bottles and jars, steel cans (including spray cans), aluminium cans, paper and cardboard, liquid paperboard (milk and juice cartons) can all be recycled
- Don’t put plastic bags in the recycle bin. One plastic bag can ruin an entire load of recycling
- With many larger household items, such as lounges, microwaves and cutlery, consider friends or relatives who may be able to use them. If no-one you know has a need for your old items, contact charity groups such as Lifeline or St Vincent de Paul who can reuse or resell these items wisely. Remember – some charities may not accept items that are broken or soiled
- Mobile phones, empty printer cartridges and computers/printers can also be disposed of thoughtfully
- MobileMuster is a free industry program that can help with mobile phone recycling. Specially-marked collection bins are provided at all mobile phone retail outlets, some banks, Australia Post stores and some local government offices. Go to the MobileMuster website for locations
- Empty printer cartridges can be recycled in specially marked boxes at any Australia Post, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, Dick Smith Electronics or Tandy location. Alternatively, you can find your closest collection agent by logging onto www.recyclingnearyou.com.au
- Some local Councils hold special collection days for e-waste such as old computers, televisions and printers. Check with your local Council or go to www.recyclingnearyou.com.au
Out and about!
Your great recycling efforts can continue when you are out and about!
The Queensland Government’s Public Place Recycling program is working to improve Queenslanders recycling habits when away from home at major public facilities including shopping centres, stadium and sporting venues, and events and festivals.
Keep an eye out for specially marked bins at a venue near you!
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