What Can and Can’t Be Recycled in Australia?

Did you know that Australia uses more single-use plastic per person than almost any other country? That’s almost 4 million tonnes of plastic each year! And, despite the push for a “circular economy” only 14% of plastic actually gets recycled.

One of the main culprits behind this issue is confusion—many of us aren’t sure what can and can’t be recycled. A lot non-recyclable items end up in the public recycling bins. It’s been called ‘wish-cycling,’ where we toss something into recycling thinking it can be recycled when it actually can’t.

This creates a lot of extra waste to sort through and causes some major problems for the recycling process. Fortunately, with a little knowledge about proper sorting, we can make a big difference. By learning what can and can’t be recycled, we can reduce contamination, support recycling facilities, and move closer to a more sustainable future! This guide breaks down Australia’s recycling rules, helping you sort everything from paper and cardboard to glass and hard plastics with confidence.

Why Should We Be Recycling?

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” — it’s a phrase we’ve all heard before. But, what does it actually mean? Put simply, it’s the process that helps us minimise waste, conserve resources, and protect the environment by rethinking how we consume, dispose and reuse of materials.

Today, environmental concerns are bigger and more pressing than ever before. But, sometimes, the value and importance of recycling can be lost, or assume that our small actions won’t make that much of a difference. The truth is that every effort counts. No matter how small it may seem, our efforts play a big role in protecting our planet!

Reduces Pollution & Saves Resources

Recycling is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce pollution. By recycling (and repurposing) materials, less energy and fewer resources are needed to create new products.

For example, recycling aluminium cans or plastic bottles means we don’t have to extract new raw materials, saving precious resources like water and energy. In fact, recycling materials like aluminium uses only a fraction of the energy required to create new products from scratch—reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic pollutants that harm our atmosphere and water.

Slows Landfill Growth

As we continue to buy new things and throw old, damaged ones away, the more space we need to store it all. But, as waste decomposes and breaks down, it can release harmful pollutants into the environment, contaminating the soil, water, and air. But, the more materials we recycle, the less waste ends up in landfills. This not only helps to reduce the amount of space needed for these sites but also minimises the harmful impacts on our environment.

Protects Wildlife and Ecosystems

Waste poses a direct risk to local wildlife and ecosystems.

• Litter is often mistaken for food leading to serious injury and poisoning, which can be fatal.
• Birds, fish, and mammals can also become entangled in plastic or other debris.
• When waste ends up in our waterways, it can also damage aquatic life and pollute habitats.
• The build-up of waste can also destroy habitats that wildlife rely on for shelter and food, further threatening species.

Creates Jobs

Recycling isn’t just good for the planet—it’s good for the economy too. As the demand for recycling grows, so do the opportunities to create jobs. People are needed to collect, process, and manufacture recycled materials, helping to drive job creation in communities across the country.

Supporting the Circular Economy

A circular economy focuses on keeping materials in use for as long as possible. By recycling, reusing, and repairing products instead of discarding them we help keep valuable resources in circulation – without the need to extract more. Not only is this more efficient and cost-effective, it encourages innovation and the development of new technologies and solutions.

Understanding Recyclable Materials in Australia

Let’s face it—sorting waste correctly can feel like solving a puzzle! Even with systems like the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) system that is designed to offer clear guidance on what materials belong in your recycling bin, it’s easy to get confused about what belongs in your recycling bin.

Here’s a quick look at the 5 main categories of recyclable materials you’ll find in Australia:

1. Paper

What materials can be recycled:

Most paper products are recyclable, including newspapers, junk mail, brochures, office paper, magazines, envelopes, phone books, greeting cards, paper bags, and scrap paper.

What can’t be recycled:

Avoid putting padded envelopes, photographs, thermal fax paper, wax-coated paper, tissues, toilet paper, baking paper, or nappies in your recycling bin.

Items like nappies and tissues are not only unhygienic but their fibres are often too short and difficult to recover. Padded envelopes and nappies also usually contain mixed materials like plastic, making them unsuitable for recycling.

2. Cardboard

What materials can be recycled:

Cardboard boxes, milk and juice cartons (long-life ones too), egg cartons, pizza and cereal boxes (if clean), toy boxes, tissue boxes, and cardboard coffee cups are all recyclable.

What can’t be recycled:

Wax-coated cardboard boxes are a no-go since the wax makes it hard to recover the paper fibres for recycling.

3. Plastic

What materials can be recycled:

Firm plastic containers like soft drink bottles, takeaway containers, yoghurt containers, shampoo bottles, and biscuit trays can be recycled.

What can’t be recycled:

Soft plastics like plastic bags, cling wrap, chip packets, and bubble wrap can’t go in your regular recycling bin. Some hard plastic items are also not easily recyclable and not accepted. These include toothpaste tubes, straws, and nappies, which are also non-recyclable. While they can be recycled with specialist technology, many soft plastics are too light to be recycled with regular hard plastic and can jam machinery.

4. Metal

What materials can be recycled:

All empty and dry aluminium and steel packaging, including aerosol cans, food cans, pet food cans, aluminium foil, pie trays, and paint tins can be recycled.

What can’t be recycled:

However, items like batteries, gas bottles, wire, cutlery, white goods, and scrap iron or tin are not suitable for your household recycling bin.

5. Glass

What materials can be recycled:

Only packaging glass, such as bottles and jars, can be recycled. This includes jam jars, sauce bottles, beverage bottles, and perfume bottles in clear, green, or brown glass.

What can’t be recycled:

Glass items like drinking glasses, ceramics, window glass, light bulbs, mirrors, heat-proof glass, and cookware like Pyrex cannot be recycled du. They typically use a different manufacturing process and can make the recycled glass less durable.

Other Items to Keep Out of the Recycling Bin

• Food Waste: A small amount of residue is acceptable always empty food and liquids from containers before recycling. Instead, you can compost food scraps to create nutrient-rich soil for your garden
• Hazardous Materials: Batteries, chemicals, and electronic waste require special disposal methods and should not go into household recycling bins.

Alternative Disposal Methods

Don’t worry—just because something can’t go in your recycling bin doesn’t mean it has to end up in landfill! Many items have special disposal options waiting for them. Hazardous materials like batteries, paints, tyres, and chemicals all have dedicated collection points or drop-off facilities to ensure they’re handled safely and responsibly. Check with your local council or waste management services to find the right solution for these items.

Here is something to remember – recycling rules aren’t the same everywhere! What’s recyclable in one area might not be accepted in another. There are two main categories: “Widely Accepted” for items that more than 80% of the population with kerbside recycling can recycle, and “Less Widely Accepted” for items available to 60-80% of the population.

So, always check your local council’s guidelines before tossing anything in the recycling bin!

Maximising Your Recycling Impact

Want to make your recycling efforts really count? Knowing what to recycle is just the first step. To truly make a difference, it’s important to recycle smarter, not just more! Here are some tips to remember that can help maximise your efforts.

• Proper Sorting Techniques: Sorting your recyclables correctly is the most important step in the process. Keep paper, plastic, glass, and metals in their designated bins, and always separate non-recyclable materials, like soft plastics or food waste. This ensures that items can be effectively processed.
• Reducing Contamination: Contamination is a major issue in recycling. Items with food scraps, grease, or liquids can spoil entire batches of recycling. Give containers a quick rinse and ensure items are clean and dry before placing them in the bin.
• Flatten cardboard: Large cardboard boxes take up unnecessary space in bins and trucks. Flattening them can help make room for more recyclables. It’s a small step that allows the system to work more efficiently and ensures your cardboard gets recycled.
• Check the Labels: With the ARL labelling system, its easy to understand what can and can’t be recycled. However, not all items will have the label so it’s always best to double check.
• Buy Recycled Products: Recycling doesn’t stop at the bin. Close the loop by purchasing products made from recycled materials. From paper products to packaging, supporting recycled goods encourages manufacturers to prioritize sustainability and keeps the cycle going.
• Educate Others: Most importantly, share your knowledge! The more people understand how to recycle properly, the more effective the process will be.

How Skip Bins Help With Recycling & Waste Management

Skip bins play a significant role in recycling and waste management by offering a simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for handling waste for both residential and commercial clients. Skip bins come in a range of sizes, making them suitable for everything from small home clean-outs to large construction projects.

By providing a single location for your waste collection, skip bins eliminate the need to manage multiple bags or piles of rubbish. This not only saves time and effort by reducing trips to the landfill but also helps keep spaces safe and organised. This is especially important for renovation and construction sites.

Whether you’re disposing of household items, green waste, construction debris, or large items like furniture and appliances, skip bins can handle a wide variety of waste types with ease.

An added benefit is that many skip bin companies, like us at Cheapa Skips, sort and recycle as much waste as possible after collection. This ensures that recyclable materials like plastic, glass, and metal are diverted from landfills and processed for recycling.

Ready To Do Your Part?

Recycling is a powerful tool for reducing waste and conserving resources, but it’s only effective when done right. By knowing what can and can’t be recycled, you can help ensure your efforts contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

If you’re tackling a big clean-up or project and want to ensure your waste is managed responsibly, we’re here to help. Cheapa Skips offer a range of skip bins in Brisbane and the Gold Coast to make your waste disposal easy, convenient, and eco-friendly. We’ll help you handle everything from household rubbish to construction debris. Contact us today to book a skip bin and take the hassle out of waste management!