Learning Archives | Page 5 of 9

Why waste and recycling education matters

Learning

March 17, 2020

Highlights

“I see work colleagues who have the opportunity to recycle failing to do so in the workplace where we have convenient, clearly marked separation points for recycling.”

Tags: Recycling

Highlights

“I see work colleagues who have the opportunity to recycle failing to do so in the workplace where we have convenient, clearly marked separation points for recycling.”

Our recent poll showed that there are a good number of passionate recyclers amongst us (68%), with two-thirds of survey-takers wanting more Australians to take responsibility for their waste.

“People are still putting wrong items in yellow bins, especially in unit blocks. Unit management needs to be pro-active, educate tenants and monitor bin use.” said one survey-taker, Fiona.

“If users flattened their cardboard containers, they would be able to put more in the bin instead of just shoving more waste into their already full rubbish bins.” – Mary

“People don’t care, don’t know how, or think that the mysterious ‘they’ should do something. They think one person can’t make a difference but that’s not true!” – Bernadette.

When asked about the waste items they were most concerned about, 67% of survey-takers named plastic packaging as their number one pick, followed by e-waste and food waste.

What makes it so difficult to recycle right?

Another survey-taker, Anita highlighted the importance of getting the basics right, especially with a number of recycling myths making its rounds in conversations. “Awareness of waste generation, what materials are used in making items, and how to reuse, recover, recycle used materials – people are still struggling with these concepts. Plenty of ill-informed opinions, but not many educated facts.”

Half of our survey respondents thought that recycling is easy if everyone just put their minds to it. The other half found recycling confusing or they lacked the resources they need to make informed choices.

“I see work colleagues who have the opportunity to recycle failing to do so in the workplace where we have convenient, clearly marked separation points for recycling.” – Phillip

“For some of us it just all seems too hard – we want to be sustainable, but costs or knowledge or opportunities get in the way.” – Stephanie

The feedback from the survey highlights the critical role of waste and recycling education in public spaces, offices and at home. This includes helping people understand what they are wasting, how to use the right bins and the impact of putting the wrong items in the recycling bin.

What is being done to improve recycling outcomes?

Waste and recycling education needs to evolve along with shifts in markets, regulations and technology.

Today, we have different bins for different waste streams and bespoke waste management solutions for complex waste types produced by businesses and industry. What is recyclable has also changed a lot over the years. Advancements in infrastructure, changes in packaging, manufacturing and consumer behaviour mean that the contents of a recycling bin today are not the same as it was even ten years ago.

Businesses need to understand the types of waste they generate, the ways to optimise that waste for recovery and how to ensure compliance throughout operations. A reputable waste management services provider can help businesses:

Analyse waste streams to identify opportunities for landfill diversion. This means knowing exactly what’s going in the bin, where it comes from and how to better manage the whole process
Understand the unique waste requirements of your industry including the regulatory environment and the best treatment of each waste type
Maximise resource recovery by implementing bespoke waste management strategies customised for your business and in compliance with regulations.
Reinforce positive behaviours with regular audits, reporting, waste management education and training sessions

Large organisations should make the most out of digital channels. E-learning platforms such as Greenius help reinforce proper bin behaviours among multiple branches and large numbers of employees.

We work with councils to provide recycling advice and feedback through a variety of media including bin stickers, posters, bin tagging programs and regular updates on recycling through our Sustainable Future Hub.

Excursions, school visits and education sessions are another way we engage with a younger audience to encourage sustainable outcomes from an early age.

Ultimately, everyone has a role to play in improving recycling outcomes including communities, regulators, waste services providers and businesses, as 97% of our survey-takers agree.

What goes in the FOGO bin?

Learning

March 16, 2020

Tags: Organics

Highlights

Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) are nutrient-rich materials that can be recycled into garden mulch and other beneficial soil conditioners for use in agriculture and industry. Find out how to use your FOGO bin correctly in the video above and always check with your local council or waste services provider for the latest advice.

How do I dispose of unwanted chemicals from my home?

Learning

March 11, 2020

Highlights

Cleanaway partners with local councils to collect and dispose of unwanted chemicals through mobile drop off events

Tags: Hazardous waste

Highlights

Cleanaway partners with local councils to collect and dispose of unwanted chemicals through mobile drop off events

Hazardous chemicals leftover in your back shed, garage and cupboards typically don’t take up a lot of space, which means they are often forgotten. When left lying around, these dangerous chemicals are a potential fire hazard, pose a poisoning risk to animals and children, and can damage the environment when spilled or leaked.

For these reasons, unwanted household chemicals should always be disposed of responsibly and not through your kerbside bin or during hard waste collection days.

hazardous household chemicals

What are hazardous household chemicals?

Any home, garden, pool and garage products with a ‘corrosive’, ‘oxidising agent’, ‘toxic’ or ‘flammable’ label are considered hazardous and should be collected and disposed of by a regulated hazardous chemical waste disposal service. Common household items include (not limited to):

Fire extinguishers
Motor oils, fuels and cooking oils
Paint and paint-related products
Solvents and household cleaners
Pool chemicals
Acids and alkalis
Gas bottles
Pesticides and herbicides

disposing off old cans of hazardous household chemicals

How to dispose of unwanted chemicals from your home

Many councils across Australia regularly organise free household chemical waste drop off events in addition to permanent drop off sites at community recycling centres and selected resource recovery facilities.

Cleanaway partners with local councils to collect and dispose of unwanted chemicals at our facilities and through mobile drop off events such as the Detox Your Home initiative in Victoria, Household Chemical CleanOut in NSW and the Household Hazardous Waste Program in WA.

Materials accepted at these events may vary so be sure to check with your local council or EPA authority for disposal options available. Typically, each container of material dropped off should not exceed 20kgs or litres. Any more would require a dedicated chemical collection and disposal service. Businesses should also contact a hazardous waste disposal service directly.

Cleanaway team busy with hazardous waste disposal service

Find an upcoming Detox Your Home event near you and learn more about Cleanaway’s hazardous waste management capabilities.

How bin tagging reduces recycling contamination

Learning

November 29, 2019

Highlights

Less than a year after Cleanaway’s bin tagging program commenced in Central Coast, contamination dropped from one in four bins to one in ten.

Tags: Education

Highlights

Less than a year after Cleanaway’s bin tagging program commenced in Central Coast, contamination dropped from one in four bins to one in ten.

Australians are conscientious recyclers but many councils still report high levels of contamination in kerbside recycling bins. Insights from our customers tell us that this is mainly due to lack of understanding over what goes into each bin rather than lack of care.

Contamination happens when the wrong items are put in a particular bin. This causes problems during the sorting process and reduces the quality of good recycling.

Bin tagging programs have proven to be an effective way to reduce contamination in recycling by providing on-the-spot feedback about the contents of a recycling bin. The tag on the bin indicates if contamination has been identified and explains why the bin has not been emptied. Common contaminants in the commingled recycling bin include food, liquids, soft plastic and textiles.

How bin tagging works

While tagging programs differ across councils, a typical system would involve inspectors visually assessing the bin for:

Overflows
Partially open lids
Incorrect placements
Damage
Contamination

If a bin is severely contaminated, it will not be collected as contamination could spoil an entire truckload of otherwise good recycling. Conversely, if the contents of a bin are on point, the bin may be tagged with positive feedback through a congratulatory bin tag.

bin tagging

An essential element of a bin tagging program is enforcement. After a certain number of inspections, consistently contaminated recycling bins may be taped shut and not collected. While this step is rarely needed, it is a clear and tangible repercussion of not using the recycling service correctly.

Bin tagging is effective for improving bin behaviours

Less than a year after Cleanaway’s bin tagging program started in the Central Coast, contamination dropped from one in four bins to one in ten – a more than 100% improvement in the community’s recycling rates.

bin tagging

Similarly, trials in South Australia and Western Australia have also reported up to a 48% decrease in contamination through bin tagging programs.

Bin tagging has been a successful way to improve recycling behaviours because:

Tags are usually colourful, making for better visibility
Information is given on the bin itself rather than through the letterbox, which is more effective for gaining attention
The tags provide immediate feedback to reinforce the desired behaviour especially when there is a disconnect between what residents think is the correct way to recycle and what actually is the correct way
Repeated feedback keeps proper bin behaviours top of mind and encourages the forming of good habits

What you can do to avoid a bin tag

We encourage people to follow the three golden rules of recycling:

Know the right materials for recycling
Separate each material before disposal
Use the right bin

Every council has different rules for recycling, so it’s best to stay on top of the practice in your local area by visiting your council’s website.

Recycling *

Glass bottles and jars
Plastic bottles and containers
Aluminium and steel cans
Flattened paper and cardboard

Organics*

Food waste
Food-soiled paper and cardboard
Used tissue
pet litter

General waste*

Food scraps
Nappies
Torn clothing
Polystyrene
Plastic cutlery
Coffee cups
Soft plastic

*Check with your council for local inclusions

Want to refresh your recycling basics? Visit our National Recycling Week hub for recycling tips, tricks and trivia.

If you are ever in doubt about what goes into your kerbside bin, contact your local council.

How do container return schemes make a difference for recycling?

Learning

July 4, 2019

Tags: Container deposit scheme

Highlights

Closed loop recycling is the end game for a sustainable recycling system. Container return schemes make this possible by separating drink containers at the source to produce a clean, high-quality stream of recyclables that can be turned into new items again and again.

Looking for a one-stop resource to make #realisticplastic choices in your life? Visit this page for downloadable resources with simple actions anyone can do to avoid single use plastic and save the use of plastic for when it is essential in our lives.

How can plastics improve the quality of life?

Learning

Tags: Plastic Free July

Highlights

Plastic is a lightweight material that can be moulded for different medical applications such as prosthetics, pacemakers, and other devices that increase mobility and quality of life.

From disposable syringes and surgical gloves to reusable sharps containers, essential plastics help minimise the risk of infection and stop the spread of disease amongst patients and staff in healthcare facilities.

Completely eliminating plastic isn’t possible but making #realisticplastic choices in our everyday lives is. To learn more about how you can sustainably manage the plastics in your life, download our #realisticplastic guide here.

Should you avoid all plastic?

Learning

June 26, 2019

Tags: Plastics

Highlights

Plastics are a durable and flexible material that plays many roles in our lives – in manufacturing, healthcare, transport and many more.

Syringes and straws, for example, are essential in healthcare, preventing infections and improving quality of life. They are also used in construction as long-lasting materials for building bridges and park benches. However, when disposed of carelessly, plastic can harm the environment and wildlife.

Quitting plastic altogether isn’t the solution. Making better, #realisticplastic choices is. Our Plastic Waste Hierarchy is a handy guide for realistic plastic use, focusing on how to make sustainable choices in selecting and disposing of plastics in our lives.

plastic waste hierarchy

Avoid and reduce

There are certain kinds of plastics that most of us can do without. Plastic straws and disposable coffee cups, while unrecyclable in most cases, are essential in healthcare and medicine. These are often unrecyclable, so if you don’t need them, don’t use them. When it comes to single-use plastics, the less you can use, the better.

Donate, reuse or upcycle

Did you know that one tonne of recycled plastic saves 16.3 barrels of oil?

Durable, long lasting plastics such as kitchen utensils, white goods, and electronics are often still working perfectly when we decide to replace them. In these cases, consider donating or upcycling them to extend their lifespan.

Many throwaway plastics in our lives can be avoided if we used reusable containers for shopping and food instead. When making a decision about whether to consume a material with plastic in it, think about its applications and whether you can maximise its lifespan for repeated usage. The longer and more it can be used, the better.

Recycle

If you choose to purchase single-use plastics, choose plastics you know can be easily recycled. Rigid or ‘unscrunchable’ plastics like milk jugs, shampoo bottles and stiff biscuit trays can be recycled in most kerbside bins.

Just remember to take the lids off and make sure they’re empty and dry before you place them in your recycling bin.

Soft plastics like plastic bags, bubble wrap and cereal bags cannot be recycled in your kerbside bin. Although they are accepted at most major supermarkets with soft plastic collection points, it’s always better to go back to steps one and two in the hierarchy – avoid them if possible, and go with reusable bags, paper bags or boxes instead.

Dispose

Plastics like bandages, adhesives and blister packs may be convenient but they can’t be recycled in most cases. Try to avoid them but if you can’t they go in general waste when you’re done.

Using the waste hierarchy can help optimise the use of plastic and help make #realisticplastic choices.

Download our handy Plastic Waste Recovery Hierarchy PDF guide here.

Are you having the right conversation about plastic?

Learning

June 24, 2019

Tags: Plastic Free July

Highlights

From just a few participants in Western Australia in 2011, Plastic Free July has grown into a worldwide movement with millions of people across 170 countries. Plastic Free July aims to encourage people to be more aware of their plastic use by supporting behaviour change.

This year, we are keen to lift the conversation beyond just avoiding single use plastic. We believe that people are ready to have a more sophisticated conversation about plastic – to understand what we need to do to consume the material in a sustainable way while reinforcing the unsustainable applications that we must avoid.

Using the hashtag #realisticplastic, we’re asking, “Are you having the right conversation about plastic?” and talking about the practical applications of plastic in healthcare, manufacturing and more, through a series of films, awareness visuals and educational assets.

1) #realisticplastic infographic

Confused about which plastics you should avoid? Download our handy infographic perfect for use in the office, school or at home.

#realisticplastic infographic

2) Plastic waste recovery hierarchy

Download our plastic waste recovery hierarchy PDF or read our article to find out how you can manage plastic in your life.

3) Plastic free lunch

Looking to start your plastic free journey with a simple exercise that anyone can do? Use our plastic free lunch toolkit as a guide. Download the PDF here .

4) Looking to up your sustainability game?

1. Explore our Sustainable Future Hub to learn more about recycling.

2. Sign up for our Sustainable Future newsletter for monthly updates on the latest sustainability news for communities, businesses and industry (see the tab at the bottom of this page).

3. Businesses should consider a waste audit to improve recycling rates, minimise wastage and increase business efficiency.

4. Join us on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest recycling news and our Youtube channel for sustainability videos and animations.

The Australasian recycling label and its impact on the commingled bin

Learning

May 17, 2019

Tags: Recycling

Highlights

Updated 15 October 2020

Many Australians diligently recycle their packaging waste but figuring out which products to recycle can be confusing at times. To make the rules clearer, a new nationally consistent label has been created.

The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL), developed by Planet Ark, PREP Design and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), shows what parts of product packaging can be placed in the commingled recycling bin, and what should go to general waste. It’s already being used on packaging in supermarkets across the country with the support of leading organisations like Nestle, Unilever and Woolworths.

Since launching in 2018, more than 270 businesses have agreed to adopted the label, and the next few years should see even more companies using the label on their products.

Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price launched the label at the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s Towards 2025 event in Melbourne. “It provides people with easy-to-understand recycling information when they need it most, in those few seconds when they are deciding what bin the package goes in,” she said.

Adrian Cullen, Woolworth’s Sustainability Manager explained how the company is using the label on Woolworths branded products. “On some of our ready meals range, there’s a tray, it’s covered on top with a sheet of plastic, and it might come with a cardboard collar,” Adrian explained. “So (the new label) will probably tell the customer that the tray is recyclable, the plastic sheet on top would need to be torn off and that would go into the general waste, and the collar made of cardboard would then also be recycled.”

How to read the label

The ARL uses three categories to represent:

• What can be recycled in the commingled bin
• What to place in the general waste bin
• What can be possibly recycled but should be checked for further instructions or with council

Recyclable items: This means that the packaging is likely to be cardboard or rigid plastic and should be clean of food and placed in the commingled recycling bin.

Conditionally recyclable items: These items can possibly be recycled but should be checked for further instructions below the label or with council for local recycling options.

Not recyclable items: These are items such as soft plastic wrappers or film that is not recyclable and should be disposed of in the general waste bin.

Why the recycling label is useful

Contamination continues to be a risk to commingled recycling and confusion over what products can and cannot be recycled is a major contributor. Cleanaway has been working with our municipal, commercial and industrial customers to improve the quality of recycling in the commingled bin.

China’s National Sword policy to increase the threshold of acceptable contamination on imports created greater urgency around improved recycling quality.

We surveyed Australian consumers on our social media channels and discovered that most Australians understand the basics of recycling, but are confused about more complex questions around the different types of materials and how to treat them for recycling

At Cleanaway, we believe that simple and effective recycling information delivered at the point where waste decisions are made are likely to have the most impact on positive bin behaviour. With less contamination and better quality recycling, recovered materials have better market value because they are in a better condition to be used in the manufacture of new products.

What more is being done to improve waste management in Australia?

The Australian Environment Minister has announced national packaging targets to support the Federal Government’s commitment to make 100% of all packaging to be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.

To achieve these targets, industry-wide collaboration between key stakeholders and greater investment in waste sorting and processing infrastructure will be necessary to support the domestic recycling market.

APCO Chief Executive Brooke Donnelley said, “We need to address the use of recycled content, packaging being recycled or composted, and what materials are unnecessary or problematic.”

Cleanaway’s Footprint 2025 roadmap is committed to ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place to maximise resource recovery and optimise the quality of recycled material. Cleanaway’s state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Perth which is capable of sorting eight waste streams, and our container sorting facility in Eastern Creek is custom-made to count, sort and process more than 250,000 plastic, aluminium, steel, and LPB containers per hour.

Through our partnership with key waste and recovery industry associations like the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) and the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC), we’re lending a strong voice to discussions about the future of waste management by advocating for best practices and harmonisation of legislation across Australia.

Want to improve your recycling? Learn the basics in our National Recycling Week page, packed with tips, trivia and resources for better recycling outcomes.

Visit Planet Ark’s website for more information about the Australasian Recycling Label.

Waste management horror stories

Learning

May 3, 2019

Tags: Grease traps

Highlights

The impact of improperly-managed waste goes far beyond a messy nature strip – it can lead to fines, stop-work orders, site-sealing and even court charges. We compiled a list of stories about waste management gone wrong that will set you thinking about the proper disposal of waste:

Faulty grease traps can be a nuisance

Depending on your location, regular grease trap maintenance is required by law. Neglecting regular maintenance can lead to fines and overspills. In extreme cases, it may also lead to a business being sued by its neighbours. A restaurant in Macquarie Street, New South Wales found themselves the subject of a nuisance suit due to odours from a grease trap in their basement.

In Tasmania, a blocked grease trap shut down the Emergency Department of the Royal Hobart Hospital and caused an evacuation event that was classified as a “disaster that requires an emergency and immediate response.”

For restaurants, cafés and other businesses in the food and beverage industry, it’s always a good idea to service your traps two to six times a year to prevent bad smells, risk of flooding and overspills.

Pharmaceutical waste polluting the environment

Expired, unused and contaminated medication flushed down the toilet can find its way into our waterways, impacting wildlife. A study conducted in Victorian creeks found traces of human medication in river wildlife, though the long-term effects are yet to be fully understood.

Medical waste disposal is highly regulated and should be managed by a services provider licenced to safely collect and dispose of all types of medications and pharmaceutical by-products.

Hazardous waste leaching into the environment

Hazardous waste such as fuel oils, cooking oils, disinfectants, paints and cosmetics can damage the environment, wildlife and human health.

For householders, there are drop-off events such as Detox your Home in Victoria that will accept hazardous waste. Leftover paint and its related packaging are collected and recycled. You can also drop off leftover paint at most local transfer stations, as well as batteries, fluorescent lights and motor oil.

Businesses with difficult to manage waste should contact their waste management provider for advice. A certified “trackable” waste transporter will be able to explain how your waste is processed, including tracking and documentation on how and where your waste is recycled or disposed.

Safe, efficient and documented disposal is critical to avoiding stockpiling that can put local communities at risk. Most recently there was a major factory fire in Melbourne involving flammable solvents that resulted in two workers sustaining significant injuries along with other major community impacts including the closure of several schools and other evacuations.

Don’t take the risk

A reputable waste management service provider can go a long way to help prevent these horror stories from happening. It’s more than simply collecting your waste, but helping your business minimise waste production and maximise recovery to meet your economic, environmental and social bottom lines.

Whether its medical waste, grease trap servicing or hazardous waste collection, disposal and recycling, Cleanaway offers a total range of waste management solutions with complete waste tracking from source to disposal and full compliance with all state regulations.