Redlands Coast residents are being urged to help create a greener and more sustainable future for our city by committing to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible at home and in their workplace
Mayor Jos Mitchell said everyday items such as cereal boxes, magazines, glass bottles and cardboard packaging materials were currently ending up in general waste bins when they could be recycled.
“Our audits show that recyclable items make up about 16% of what is disposed of in red-lid general waste bins and subsequently what is being sent to landfill on Redlands Coast each year,” Mayor Mitchell said.
“These are items that could otherwise be contributing to the circular economy and taking pressure off our finite natural resources.
“Council’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2021-2030 sets out a target of reducing waste to landfill by 15% and increasing the amount of materials recycled to 60% by 2030.
Cr Mitchell said it was important for households to be aware of the common misconceptions that were contributing to recyclable items ending up in landfill.
“You may have heard that dirty items such as meat trays and bolognese sauce jars are unable to be recycled. This is incorrect,” she said.
“Just make sure most of the food contents is removed and give the container a quick rinse before placing it in your yellow-lid kerbside bin.
“Council’s recycling contractor cleans and processes these items and then remanufactures them into new packaging, reducing our reliance on new materials and contributing to the circular economy.
“We can all play a role in creating a more sustainable future for our city and it starts with making sure you and others in your household are recycling the right materials.”
Visit the Redland City Council website or download the Recycle Mate app.
The top 10 recyclable items that commonly appear in general waste bins on Redlands Coast are:
- Pizza boxes
- Tuna cans
- Sushi containers
- Dip containers
- Meat trays
- Biscuit trays
- Sauce bottles/jars
- Berry and fruit punnets
- Cereal boxes
- Glossy magazines
