Orange residents are being encouraged to do the right thing when they're at the bin this National Recycling Week, from 11 to 17 November 2024.
In short: National Recycling Week will be held from 11 to 17 November.
National Recycling Week encourages us all to become better at recycling and managing our rubbish
What's next: Residents are reminded to use their yellow-lid recycling bin correctly and, by doing so, keep valuable resources out of landfull, help conserve raw materials and reduce pollution and harm to the environment.
During National Recycling Week, Orange City Council wants to remind people to use their yellow-lid recycling bin correctly and, by doing so, keep valuable resources in circulation, help conserve raw materials, and reduce pollution and harm to the environment.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said one of the most important ways to recycle right was to keep soft plastics out of the recycling bin.
"Soft plastics can be found everywhere we look, they wrap our bread, vegetables, dog food and toilet paper, carry our groceries and our garbage. Soft plastics are any plastic item that can be scrunched easily in your hand.
"While some soft plastic waste is unavoidable, it's important to remember to dispose of it correctly in the red lid bin while soft plastic recycling is on hold," Cr Mileto said.
"Soft plastics cannot be recycled in our yellow-lid recycling bins at home, and cause all sorts of problems if they're sent to our recycling facilities."
Australia consumes more soft plastic waste than we have the capacity to recycle, so the best way to minimise our environmental impact is to avoid it in the first place.
Some simple ways to help reduce soft plastic consumption are:
- Buying produce loose and using your own reusable fabric produce bags
- Shopping at a bulk foods shop that minimises packaging where you can
- Opting for items that come in recyclable packaging
- Use beeswax wraps and reusable containers as alternatives to cling wrap and ziplock bags.
