Hints to recycle right!
Moreland City Council is inspecting 10,000 recycling bins between September and December, in a bid to reduce the level on contamination in kerbside recycling.
Moreland has a 17% contamination rate in residential recycling bins – well above the state average of 10%. Contamination means items placed in recycle bins that cannot be recycled.
As Deputy Mayor Kathleen Matthews-Ward explains: “Council and therefore ratepayers pay a penalty fee for contaminated recyclables, making the cost of the service more expensive that it needs to be.
“We encourage all residents to take special note of the items they place in their recycle bins this month. Between September and December, Council will be inspecting recycling bins across Moreland. Put us to the test!”
During the four-month inspection period, Council will issue a notice to all bins that are mildly contaminated (containing less than three non-recyclable items).
Households with badly contaminated bins (containing hazardous items, rubbish, plastic bags, recyclables in plastic bags or more than three non-recyclable items) will be issued with a notice and will not have their bins collected. These residents will need to remove the contaminants before arranging an alternative collection date.
All residents with contaminated items in their bins will be issued a sticker explaining what shouldn’t have been included as recycling.
Moreland’s higher rate of contamination may be due to a number of factors. “Many residents may not fully understand what is and isn’t acceptable to recycle,” says Cr Matthews-Ward. For example, we find many residents put recyclable material inside non-recyclable plastic bags.”
“Some residents may not fully understand the cost of contaminated recyclables. The annual audit undertaken at the recycling processing facility found bagged waste, expanded polystyrene, shoes, food, nappies, toys, paint and electronics in Moreland recycling bins.
“We hope this campaign will help educate the Moreland community and let them know Council is here to support our residents and shop-owners to recycle right.”
For more information visit moreland.vic.gov.au or phone Council.
