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What you Can and Can’t Recycle in Victoria

April 22, 2020
Reading Time: 4 mins

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Recycling is important. But how we recycle is important, too.

Most people think they know what they can or can’t recycle, but we often get it wrong. This is important because when too many of the wrong things go into your home recycling bin, it can result in problems for the recycling facility. As a result, your trash might end up going into a landfill, instead of being recycled.

Each room of your house is a goldmine for items waiting to be recycled. Every little bit can make a huge difference.

The following are items that can be recycled in your home recycling bin, anywhere in Victoria, as well as some tips on how to recycle more effectively.

Note: Recycling services may differ depending on your local council. So it’s a good idea to check the full list of items that can be recycled in your area.

Flatten the following items before placing them in your recycling bin:
  • Toothpaste boxes
  • Toilet roll tubes
Make sure to empty and rinse the following items before placing them in your recycling bin. Pumps and trigger sprays cannot be recycled, so make sure to remove them.
  • Plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles
  • Shower gel containers
  • Liquid soap bottles
  • Bleach bottles, bathroom cleaner bottles
  • Washing liquid and detergent bottles
  • Hairspray
Roll-on deodorant bottles are accepted in most, but not all, areas. Make sure to check with your local council before placing these in your home recycling bin.

If you have any old magazines, you can place these directly into your home recycling bin.

For empty tissue boxes, make sure to first remove any plastic inserts. Then, flatten the box. This will help you save space in your recycling bin.

Plastic medicine and vitamin bottles can also be recycled. Just make sure to remove the lids first.

Are you a big fan of online shopping? You can recycle the cardboard packaging from your orders. Just make sure to remove the packaging tape first. Then, flatten the packaging. This will help you save space in your recycling bin.

Here are a few other recyclable items that you might find in your living room:

  • Air fresheners
  • Aerosol bottles
  • Furniture polish
  • Office paper
  • Magazines
  • Newspapers
  • Junk mail
  • Envelopes
  • Phone books
  • Wrapping paper

Many people think they can’t recycle aluminium foil. But the truth is, aluminium is almost indefinitely recyclable. It can be remade into a variety of things. This includes parts for cars, bikes, boats, and even aeroplanes.

Most areas accept aluminium foil in home recycling bins. To be sure, make sure to check with your local council. If your area does accept aluminium, make sure to scrunch it up into a ball before placing it in your home recycling bin. You should do the same for any disposable aluminium cake and biscuit trays you plan on recycling. This helps make sure that these items will be sorted correctly at the recycling facility.

Currently, Australians only recycle about 35% of their steel and tin cans. Like aluminium, steel and tin cans are particularly valuable recyclable materials. So if you have any of the following items in your kitchen, make sure to place them in your home recycling bin:

  • Baby formula tins
  • Cooking oil tins
  • Food and drink cans
  • Pet food cans

Clear, green or brown glass bottles and jars are recyclable in Victoria. Unfortunately, there is not a high enough volume of other coloured glass in our region to make it worthwhile for recycling facilities.

Flatten the following items before placing them in your recycling bin:

  • Empty dishwasher tablet boxes
  • Kitchen wrap boxes
  • Cereal boxes
  • Pizza boxes
  • Paper plates
  • Cardboard takeaway food containers
  • Juice and milk cartons

Unfortunately, only a few areas in Victoria can currently collect takeaway coffee cups for recycling. You can recycle the hard plastic lid, but the cup itself must go in the rubbish bin. This is because most cups are a mix of plastic and paper, and are therefore a challenge to recycle. Always check with your local council – or use a reusable cup!

Other items that cannot be recycled include:

  • Syringes and medical waste
  • Dead animals
  • Disposable nappies
  • Oils
  • Glass from broken glasses, windows, or mirrors
  • Ceramics and ovenware
  • Chemical waste

It’s important to know what items your local recycling facilities can collect. Knowing what you can and can’t put in your home recycling bin helps keep our recycling facilities working smoothly. It also helps maximise the benefits of recycling by ensuring valuable materials don’t get thrown into the landfill. Every little bit can make a huge difference for our environment.

We hope you liked learning about what you can and can’t recycle in Victoria.

If you have any friends, family, or associates who are looking for commercial or office cleaning, we would be delighted to assist them. We are passionate about helping businesses stay clean and healthy, so please pass on our details. Or alternatively, please provide us with their details and we will contact them directly.

Photo credits: freepik.com

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