Australians are being urged to rethink what they throw in their recycling bins, as one simple mistake at home can send entire loads of recyclable material straight to landfill.
Maddy Gupta, founder and CEO of Manhari Recycling, one of Victoria’s largest scrap metal recycling companies with depots in Horsham, Ararat, and Tottenham ion Melbourne, has given his thoughts on how we can better understand the process to ensure that we are doing the right thing when sorting our recycling and ensure that once the yellow and purple bins are emptied, or our cardboard or newspapers are delivered to the depot, they are in the right condition to be correctly processed."People feel good putting items in the recycling bin, but the reality is far more complex,
"What happens next determines whether those materials are reborn as new products or wasted entirely." The journey after your bin is collected
Once recycling is picked up, it doesn’t go straight to a new life. Instead, it is transported to a materials recovery facility, where a highly sophisticated sorting process begins.
From there, materials are compressed into large bales and sent to specialist recycling facilities, where they are processed into raw materials ready to be reused."At these facilities, everything is separated using a combination of machines, magnets, sensors and airflow systems,
"Paper and cardboard are separated first, followed by plastics, glass and metals like aluminium.
"In the best-case scenario, those materials can be turned into new products within weeks,
"However, that only happens if they are clean, correctly sorted and uncontaminated." The biggest problem: contamination
The biggest issue facing Australia’s recycling system is contamination, when the wrong items are placed in recycling bins, with common contamination items including food waste, soft plastics, liquids, and non-recyclable items."One wrong item can contaminate an entire load,
"If that happens, the whole batch may be rejected and sent to landfill. That means all the effort people made to recycle is lost.
"People often assume that if something looks recyclable, it is,
"However, that’s not always true." What you should always recycle
Several materials that perform extremely well in Australia’s recycling system when disposed of correctly include glass bottles and jars, clean cardboard and certain rigid plastics when properly sorted."Aluminium cans are one of the best examples,
"They can be recycled again and again without losing quality and are highly valuable in the recycling market.
"The key is making sure items are empty, clean and placed loosely in the bin, not inside bags," This week, the Dimboola Lions reminded residents that when dropping off cardboard to their recycling collection depot in Hindmarsh Street, to ensure that there are no other materials amongst the cardboard they drop off. Glass was highlighted as a concern due to the safety issues it presents to their volunteers when broken during the compacting process.
What should never go in your recycling bin
Confusion around what not to recycle is one of the biggest contributors to system breakdown.
These include soft plastics such as plastic bags and food wrappers, which can jam sorting machines, as well as food waste, which contaminates other materials.
If in doubt, Maddy Gupta suggests that it is better to leave an item out than risk contaminating an entire load."There are some items that should never go in your recycling bin, no matter how recyclable they may seem,
"Items like greasy pizza boxes, nappies, textiles, polystyrene and broken glass should also stay out of recycling bins,
"Even things like coffee cups are often not recyclable through standard kerbside systems because they contain mixed materials." Why your choices matter more than ever
Australia generates millions of tonnes of waste each year, and recycling plays a critical role in reducing landfill and conserving resources.
However, Maddy Gupta said the system only works when households do their part, and small changes in behaviour can have a massive cumulative impact."Recycling is not just about what happens in facilities. It starts in your kitchen, your office and your daily habits," he said.
"Every item you place in the right bin has the potential to be reused. Every mistake has the potential to undo that."
"If every household improved how they recycle, we could dramatically increase recovery rates and reduce waste across the country," Building a stronger circular economy
Understanding the recycling process is key to building a more sustainable future, and businesses like Manhari Recycling are working to maximise recovery and ensure valuable materials are not lost.
"When materials are recycled properly, they don’t just disappear. They are transformed into new products, reducing the need for raw materials and lowering environmental impact,
"That is the foundation of a circular economy."
"However, we cannot do it alone,
"This is a shared responsibility between industry, government and every Australian household." A simple message with big impact
Maddy Gupta said the takeaway for Australians is simple but powerful."Recycling works, but only when it is done properly," he said.
"Put the right items in the right bin, keep them clean and avoid contamination."
"Because what happens after your bin leaves your home depends on the choices you make before it gets there."
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