Almost 90 per cent of us recycle goods – but not always very well!
In fact, more than 30,990 tonnes of recyclables were collected in Moreton Bay Regional Council bins in the 2019-20 financial year – yet more was found in general waste bins.
In National Recycling Week (November 9-15) an appeal has been made to try and improve those figures, the process and keep striving for ‘zero waste’.
“We are really good at recycling items like paper, cardboard, glass, steel and aluminium cans,” Planet Ark Recycling Campaigns Manager Claire Bell told Moreton Daily.
“Container Deposit Schemes have been particularly successful, but some items still cause frequent confusion and contamination in kerbside recycling bins.
“We need more resources and education from the grassroots up to the national level.”
Mayor Peter Flannery recently revealed one of the worst cases, with a full barbecue gas cylinder being pulled from a recycling truck at Narangba Waste Management Facility.
“The fact that nothing went wrong from the wheelie bin, to the collection truck, to processing at the recycling facility is a miracle,” he said.
Less dangerous, but still of concern, is confusion over items such as clothing and textiles, soft plastics, household batteries and mattresses, which are one of the biggest items in landfill.
A council trial is currently under way where mattresses are shredded to recover the metal springs. Officers are also looking at ways to recycle the foam and fabric material.
After two years Containers for Change is proving one of our biggest successes with more than 180 million items collected in the Moreton Bay Region – that’s $18 million in refunds.
Queensland is also ahead of projections having this week recycled its three billionth drink container and Redcliffe is one of the program’s strongest areas.
“Customer education has been crucial,” said Containers for Change spokesman Adam Nicholson, “but there’s now a good hold on what and where items can be recycled.”
Containers for Change follows national standards and Mr Nicholson said there was potential for further change around items such as wine bottles.
Mayor Peter Flannery added: “If you’re at all confused, council’s website has a comprehensive list of what you can and can’t throw into bins and what should be taken to a waste management facility.”
Visit: moretonbay.qld.gov.au/services/waste-recycling/disposal
This region’s general recycling goes to the Visy Material Recovery Facility at Gibson Island, Murarrie. For details check the Visy website visy.com.au/recycling/education
For more on Containers for Change visit containersforchange.com.au
You can recycle:
You cannot recycle:
3 billion containers collected in Queensland equates to:
Brian Roselt remembers it well - he was ‘hooked’ on surf lifesaving within minutes of sitting on a trailer at the Redcliffe club.…
Plans for a new PCYC in Caboolture have moved a step closer to reality after a $4 million funding and land pledge by the state Labor party.…
Local News • 26-2-2021 • Matt Rodin
Moreton Daily is live again on Facebook after an unplanned mini-break! In case you've missed out, here are the past week's top stories...…
Local News • 26-2-2021 • Nick Crockford
Dropping-off and picking-up students at Mango Hill State School will soon be easier. A second drop-zone could be finished this week and open within days.…
Local News • 25-2-2021 • Kylie Knight
The Moreton Bay Region is perfectly positioned to host events and visitors if Brisbane gets the nod to host the 2032 Olympic Games. The bid moved a step closer to winning the race, with the International Olympic Committee’s executive board naming it the preferred candidate overnight.…
Local News • 24-2-2021 • Kylie Knight
Work on a synthetic running track at Deception Bay’s Zammit Oval could start within months with funding from the Federal and State Government’s locked in.…
Local News • 23-2-2021 • Kylie Knight
A Moreton Bay man can’t wait to “see the whole world” after today discovering he’s won a $3 million Saturday Gold Lotto prize.…
Local News • 23-2-2021 • Kylie Knight
Tastes of Moreton Bay – a six-week long celebration of local produce and cuisine – is coming back in 2021 along with the Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival.…