Everyday items that have no place in the recycling bin, such as nappies and aerosol cans, are being chucked in them to the frustration of councils.
China announced that they would no longer buy Perth’s waste and so now Western Australian governments and bodies are looking for alternatives.
Around 40 per cent of the recycling in the Shire of Denmark, 420 kilometres south-east of Perth, actually goes to landfill.
Around 40 per cent of the recycling in the Shire of Denmark, 420 kilometres south-east of Perth, actually goes to landfill
Items that aren’t supposed to be in recycling bins are nappies, aerosol cans, clothes, flexible plastics, textiles and garden waste (stock image)
Items that aren’t supposed to be in recycling bins include nappies, aerosol cans, clothes, flexible plastics, textiles and garden waste.
While glass bottles and jars, cardboard, shredded paper, aluminium and steel cans and plastic bottles are fine to recycle.
A solution is being looked at to help people understand what can and can’t go in recycling bins.
A pilot version of a bin tagging program was launched in 2015 by the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) with the Cities of Joondalup, Kwinana and the Town of Cambridge taking part.
The program provides feedback on what is in your bin as auditors have a look inside and assess the content.
A tag is placed on the bin letting the property owners know how they scored.
Those who don’t comply with the bin tagging after warnings will have their bin tapped shut or their rubbish not collected.
In previous runs of the program there was an increase in correct separation with 70 per cent of homes doing the right thing.
While glass bottles and jars, cardboard, shredded paper, aluminium and steel cans and plastic bottles are fine to recycle (stock image)
‘If, following the taping of the bin, the household’s behaviour does not change, then it is up to the Local Government to determine the next step,’ the WALGA guidelines read.
Peter Caron, Denmark deputy president and chairman of the shire’s waste committee, told The West Australian: ‘I think some people are cramming everything in their recycling in the hope it can be recycled or they’re just not fussed.
‘It’s a real struggle sometimes for the regional councils to do the best practice stuff [in recycling].’