Ethan Clarke
Plastic is everywhere, and it's no secret that it's become an environmental concern. While recycling is a great way to reduce plastic waste, not all plastics can be recycled. In Australia, soft plastics like plastic bags, food packaging, and scrunchable plastics cannot be recycled in kerbside recycling bins. These soft plastics can clog up the recycling machines and cause issues in the process. Plastic utensils, such as forks, spoons, and knives, also cannot be recycled in home bins due to their shape, although some councils may accept plastic plates. It's important to check with local councils about their specific accepted items, as recycling systems vary across the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic that can be recycled | Rigid hard plastic trays, plastic drink bottles, shampoo bottles, cream containers, non-electric toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, dental floss containers, plastic plates |
| Plastic that cannot be recycled | Soft plastics, soft polystyrene trays, plastic bags, food packaging, plastic utensils |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastics, like plastic bags, cannot be recycled in kerbside bins
Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, plastic food packaging, fruit netting, and dry cleaning bags, cannot be placed in kerbside recycling bins in Australia. Soft plastics are the most common form of contamination in the recycling system, as they get caught in the conveyor belt and disrupt the entire recycling process.
Soft plastics can be recycled, but they need to be recycled separately from other plastics. The best method for recycling soft plastics is to bundle them into one bag and deposit them into a REDcycle bin, which can be found in most large regional and metro supermarkets. These soft plastics are then recycled into plastic school furniture.
It is important to check with your local council about what they accept, as each area has different recycling systems and sorting processes. For example, some councils may accept plastic plates, while others do not.
To reduce the amount of soft plastics ending up in landfills or polluting the environment, it is recommended to reduce their use as much as possible.
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Soft polystyrene trays cannot be recycled
Most recycling facilities do not have the equipment to recycle polystyrene, so it must be taken to a special location where it can be densified. However, there are very few locations that accept polystyrene for recycling. In Australia, soft polystyrene trays cannot be recycled in your local council's kerbside recycling bin, bag, or box. They must be disposed of in your local council's kerbside residual waste bin.
It is important to note that soft plastics, such as plastic bags, food packaging, and other "scrunchable" plastics, should not be placed in with the rest of your plastic containers for recycling. Soft plastics are the number one form of contamination in the recycling system, as they can get caught in the conveyor belt and cause the entire system to shut down.
To properly dispose of soft polystyrene trays and other soft plastics, it is recommended to check with your local council about accepted materials and recycling systems. Some locations that accept polystyrene for recycling include the Foodservice Packaging Institute and select shipping stores that take back packaging peanuts for reuse.
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Plastic utensils are not recyclable due to their shape
The shape of plastic utensils, such as forks, spoons, and knives, poses a challenge for recycling facilities. Their skinny and small design makes them likely to fall through or get stuck in the sorting machines. This can cause disruptions and even damage to the machinery. As a result, many recycling facilities choose not to accept these items.
Additionally, the lightweight nature of plastic utensils can lead to misidentification with other materials, such as paper. This can result in the two materials being processed together, contaminating the recyclables. The inconsistency in shape and size across different utensils also makes it challenging for recycling facilities to sort and process them effectively.
The issue of contamination is a significant concern for recycling plants. Plastic utensils can easily break inside the machines, leading to jams in the recycling system. This creates additional maintenance and repair work for the facilities, further complicating the recycling process.
While some councils may accept plastic plates, it is important to check with local recycling guidelines. Plastic utensils made from polystyrene, PET, or polypropylene can sometimes be recycled through local recycling programs. However, due to their shape and size, they may still pose challenges for automated sorting systems.
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Bottle lids are too small to be recycled
While some areas that accept plastic bottle caps prefer you to keep the cap on, they have different guidelines for metal caps. This is because bottle lids are too small to be picked up by factory sorting machines. If you leave the lid on, some liquid will remain inside, and because many sorting machines use air to sort items, any liquid left inside can weigh them down.
Napa Recycling and Waste Service experts in Napa, California advise:
> Bottle caps are recyclable, but they often get lost during the recycling process because of their small size. Put your [metal] bottle caps in a steel food can, and when it’s nearly full, crimp or pinch it closed and recycle the can and its contents together.
If your local recycling company doesn't accept plastic bottle caps, you'll need to remove them. Mike Wolf, the warehouse supervisor for Pacific Steel in Missoula, says:
> Plastic bottle caps are a really difficult thing to recycle because they are a different resin and typically have a seal inside [that’s] hard to separate. When people leave the plastic caps on, when the stuff is processed, it gets bailed. Of course, it varies by region, but around Missoula, there’s no way to recycle the plastic caps.
If your local program doesn't accept plastic bottle caps, there are still ways to recycle them. You can find a nearby metal recycling facility, or mail them to a recycling centre.
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Councils may not accept plastic bags and other soft plastics
Plastic bags and other soft plastics are a significant challenge for recycling systems in Australia and worldwide. While some types of plastics are widely accepted in kerbside recycling programs, plastic bags and soft plastics often fall into a different category due to their unique characteristics and the limitations of recycling infrastructure.
One key reason why councils may not accept plastic bags and soft plastics is the issue of contamination. Plastic bags, especially those that are
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic bags and other soft plastics like food packaging and dry cleaning bags cannot be recycled in your kerbside recycling bin. Plastic forks, spoons, and knives are also not recyclable as they cannot be separated by sorting machines. Bottle lids are too small to be picked up by factory sorting machines and should be put in the garbage instead.
Soft plastics can be recycled through a program called REDcycle, which has bins in most metro and large regional supermarkets.
Soft polystyrene trays and plastic toothbrushes are not recyclable.
Rigid hard plastic trays, plastic drink bottles, plastic plates, and plastic toiletry products like shampoo bottles and cream containers can be recycled.
Lead acid batteries, lightbulbs, and gas cylinders cannot be recycled through your kerbside bin but can be dropped off at a Community Recycling Centre or specific stores like Aldi, Repco Auto, and Battery World.
