Recycling

The recycling bin is emptied fortnightly. Calendars are delivered each year showing recycling collection dates. Please call Council on 9716 1800 to be sent a calendar.

NOTE: NO PLASTIC BAGS IN RECYCLING BINS

What Can I Recycle?


Large quantities or recyclables are accepted free at Waste Management Centres.

What Happens to My Recycling?
All recyclables are taken to Visy Recycling's Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) where they are sorted into the various streams. Some materials are separated by machinery and some by hand.

Steel Cans – A large rolling magnet separates steel cans from the other recyclables. A compacter compresses the steel into large bricks which are sent to companies who shred the steel, removing food scraps and labels and melt the steel to form into new steel products, such as cars, train tracks and planes.

Aluminium Cans – Aluminium cans are separated using an ‘eddy current' separation unit, which creates a fluctuating magnetic field to induce a magnetic effect in the cans. The cans are then baled and transported to processing plants where they are heated to 700 ° Celsius and made into new cans, saucepans and other homeware products.

Glass – A magnet removes metal contaminants while other contaminants such as ceramic are separated by hand. A vibrating screen separates whole bottles and large pieces from smaller mixed particles. It is sorted again, then undergoes an optical separation process to divide the glass into clear, amber and green streams. The glass is transported to glass companies for reprocessing into new glass.

Paper and Cardboard – Paper is hand-sorted into newsprint, cardboard and office paper. It is then mixed with water and blended into a slurry pulp. Cleaning and screening techniques remove contaminants such as plastic, string and paper clips. Newspapers and magazines are de-inked. It is dried using a screen of wire mesh, then pressed flat and dried. The finished paper is wound onto huge jumbo reels ready for conversion into boxes, packaging and other paper goods.

Plastics – Infra red light sorts the material into different types of plastics. They are then granulated into flakes and intensively washed where labels and caps are removed, then dried in a centrifuged hot air machine. They are melted and extruded into strands that are chopped into pellets ready for manufacture into new plastic products.

For more information on what items are recycled into click here.

Why Can't I Recycle…

Mirror/Window Glass? There are many different types of glass made for different purposes. Window and mirror glass contains lead and therefore cannot be used in the recycling process. Crockery and Ceramics? Crockery and ceramics do not melt down which means they form solid lumps in new bottles made which can explode as they cool down. Glass manufacturers refuse recycled glass containing ceramics.

Plastic Bags? Many people put their recyclables in plastic bags to take them out to the recycling bin. Items inside plastic bags are not recycled. The bag and its contents are sent to landfill. Plastic bags can be taken to supermarkets to recycle or simply avoid using plastic bags altogether. Take your own bags to the supermarket.
Click here to find out more about reducing the use of plastic bags.

Buy Recycled
Recycling does not stop with putting your recyclables out for collection. Items can only be recycled if people buy these recycled content products. Therefore to complete the cycle of recycling it is necessary to purchase products made from recycled content. Secondly it is important to consider the packaging when purchasing items and avoid products with unnecessary products.

To visit the Department of Environment and Conservation's Buy Recycled Guide click here.