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South Gippsland's waste audit reveals costly mistakes, urging correct disposal for savings

South Gippsland's waste audit found costly recycling mistakes, with $165,000 in potential savings. Council urges correct disposal - soft plastics, PVC, and glass in garbage; paper and numbered plastics (1-7) in recycling.

By news@gippsland - 2nd April 2025 - Back to News

Recycle correctly to reduce waste and costs. An independent audit of waste in South Gippsland showed that approximately 20 percent of the total weight of items put into recycling bins each year couldn't be recycled. Plus, 12.5 percent of the weight of residents' garbage bins is recyclable products that are instead heading to landfill.

Place recyclables loose in the bin. Avoid bundling papers or using plastic bags, or they'll end up in landfill

Reducing waste costs

The potential cost saving if all waste was disposed of correctly exceeds $165,000 annually. South Gippsland Shire Council is partnering with Sustainability Victoria to raise awareness of the five products that most often end up in the wrong bin. These three items must be placed in the garbage bin:

• Soft plastics (such as bread packaging and plastic bags)
• Non-recyclable hard plastic (such as PVC pipe fittings). These materials contain plastic types unable to be re-melted and remoulded
• Items such as broken window glass and crockery including drinking glasses and Pyrex. If placed in recycling bins, these materials contaminate loads, with the risk that entire truckloads of recyclable materials may be sent to landfill

These items can be recycled:

• Paper products
• Quantities of recyclable rigid plastic packaging (those numbered 1 to 7)

Help reduce waste and the cost of waste disposal by recycling correctly. To find out more, visit South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com