Waste habits in the spotlight during National Recycling Week
Date published: 5 November 2015
Townsville residents are urged to take a closer look at their rubbish habits during National Recycling Week, November 9 to 15, 2015.
The annual event hopes to raise public awareness of the benefits of recycling and to dispel some of the myths around what can and can’t be put into the yellow-lidded wheelie bins.
Waste and Water Committee chair Cr Ray Gartrell said Townsville City Council provided 74,500 properties with waste and recycling services and annually collected 12,500 tonnes of recyclables.
"The more we can recycle, the less goes to landfill," Cr Gartrell said.
"Items that should be regularly recycled include steel and aluminium cans and aerosols, glass bottles and jars, paper and cardboard products like pizza boxes and plastic bottles and containers.
Waste reduction and recycling education officer Melanie Field said one of the biggest mistakes residents made was putting their recyclables in plastic bags.
"We really need to get the message out there not to bag recyclables," she said.
"It makes sorting difficult and has the potential to cause damage to the machinery at the recycle facility."
To mark National Recycling Week, council will waive the one-off $30 establishment fee when residents upgrade to the 50% larger recycling bin (yellow-lidded bin).
The 360L bins offer larger families, or those who are proactive recyclers, the opportunity to recycle more. Upgrades incur a $12.50 fee which is added on to the rates billing each period.
During National Recycling Week, council will host pop-up stalls in the city’s shopping centres.
The interactive displays hope to debunk common myths and give residents and opportunity to ask council’s Recycling Rangers questions around recycling.
Stalls:
- Monday, November 9: Castletown
- Tuesday, November 10: Castletown
- Wednesday, November 11: Stockland
- Thursday, November 12: Willows
- Friday, November 13: Willows
- Saturday, November 14: Willows
To find out more about the larger recycle bins phone 1300 878 001.
