It’s time to start thinking about waste as a resource and to carefully think about whether it could be recycled or reused before disposing of it.
It is National Recycling Week and the Parkes Shire Council is inviting all residents to rethink and recover, and to look at waste as a resource.
National Recycling Week was established by Planet Ark in 1996, and this year explores the idea that Waste isn’t Waste until it’s Wasted.
Placing materials that are recyclable or recoverable in the red lid general waste bin is a waste of resources. Rethinking and recovering our waste not only keeps valuable materials out of landfill it also benefits the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
During National Recycling Week, the community is encouraged to think about waste as a resource; reconsider how we use, buy and dispose of materials to keep them in circulation for as long as possible; and think about ways we can avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle for a better future.
“There are so many ways we as a community can rethink our resource use,” said Councillor Marg Applebee said. “The Australasian Recycling Label is found on packaging and helps to take the confusion out of recycling. It is a simple tool to help you identify which bits go in which bin and is one of the easiest ways to double check that you are recycling right.
“It is also important that materials that can be recycled are empty and clean. Give glass bottles and jars, milk and juice cartons, steel and aluminium cans and rigid plastic bottles and containers a quick rinse to get rid of food scraps and liquid residues before they go into the yellow lid recycling bin.
“Recyclable materials must also be placed loose in the recycling bin and not in plastic bags. Plastic bags cannot be recycled and do not belong in the yellow lid bin,” said Marg.
There are also drop off opportunities for materials that can be recovered for reprocessing and specialised recycling that are not accepted in kerbside recycling bins.
Coles and Woolworths have specially marked REDcycle bins for the collection of soft plastics, while the Parkes Community Recycling Centre (CRC), accept problem and hazardous waste materials free of charge.
Hazardous materials should never be placed in any of the kerbside bins as they pose a health and safety threat to the community and to waste workers.
Brendan Hayes, Council’s Director Planning & Communities said: “We also want to remind people of the value of diverting organic materials away from landfill.
“As food and other organic materials such as garden waste break down in landfill, they release methane gas, a greenhouse gas 24 times more noxious than carbon dioxide. Using your green lid food and garden waste bin or a backyard composting system for all your household’s organic materials not only keeps this material out of landfill but also creates a valuable end product – compost,” said Brendan.
For more information on recycling and other ways to rethink waste including buying second hand, buying in bulk, buying products made from recycled material or with recycled content, and buying local, check out the Planet Ark website.
For information on Council’s waste services, facilities and special events, visit the Council website at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au or contact Council on 6861 2333.