Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) is encouraging residents to take extra care when using yellow-lidded recycling bins, reminding the community that recycling correctly is not only important for reducing waste and costs, but also essential for protecting the health and safety of the people who sort recyclable materials.

Recyclable materials collected across the CGRC region are processed by Elouera Association in Cootamundra at the Turners Lane Waste site with all items placed in Yellow Recycling Bins being hand-sorted by workers, including people living with disability.

Mayor Abb McAlister said many residents may not realise what happens to their recycling after it leaves the kerbside.

“Recycling doesn’t simply disappear once the truck collects it,” Mayor McAlister said.

“Every bottle, can, cardboard box and container placed in the recycling bin is sorted by hand at Elouera Association. That means every incorrect item placed in the yellow bin also has to be handled by a person.”

Items such as soft plastics, food waste, textiles, nappies, needles, garden waste, hoses and general household rubbish cannot be recycled through the kerbside yellow bin service.

When incorrect items are placed in recycling bins, they must be removed during the sorting process and disposed of as landfill waste.

“Putting the wrong item in your recycling bin means it has effectively been handled twice, once during sorting and again when it is moved to landfill,” Mayor McAlister said.

“That creates unnecessary work, increases costs and reduces the overall efficiency of the recycling process.”

Incorrect items can also damage recycling plant and equipment, causing breakdowns, downtime and additional costs. Most importantly, the health and safety of the people who work in our recycling system must come first. They should not be exposed to avoidable risks because an item has been placed in the wrong bin.

Council said contamination can also create bigger problems further down the recycling chain.

Council is reminding residents that only accepted recyclables should be placed in yellow-lidded bins, including:

• Paper and cardboard
  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Aluminium and steel cans
  • Plastic bottles and containers accepted through the local recycling system

Residents are encouraged to keep recyclables loose in the bin and never place items inside plastic bags.

“Recycling correctly is a responsibility of all residents and is one of the simplest ways to support a more sustainable future,” Mayor McAlister said.

“A few extra seconds spent checking what goes in the yellow bin can help protect local workers, reduce costs, improve recycling outcomes and keep valuable materials out of landfill.”

For more information about what can and cannot be recycled through Council’s kerbside collection service, visit Council’s website www.cgrc.nsw.gov.au/your-services/recycling

ENDS