What can I put in my bin?

I wouldn’t call those ‘rigid’, then again I did call the govt a couple of years ago to find out how rigid was ‘rigid’ (eg, straws, biscuit trays). The answer I got was an annoyed, “You know, RIGID.” No synonyms, no examples, very helpful.

3Jane said :

ONLY HARD PLASTICS IN THE RECYCLING BIN: If the plastic container is hard or rigid in nature it can go into the recycling bin. If the plastic or wrapping is soft and it scrunches easily, like chip packets and plastic bags, it goes into the rubbish bin. In the case of a packet of biscuits, the tray containing the biscuits is recyclable, but the outside wrapper is not.

So meat trays? (dont seem to have a recycling symbol; most arent ‘hard’)
I assume they go with the rubbish.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

So where am I supposed to put the weeds and garden trimmings? In the compost bin I dont have space for?

If you’ve got space for a garden, you’ve got space for a compost bin.

When are we getting a green waste bin??

Never. Suck it up.

We have them over in Queanbeyan. And they are great.

Not only do they empty them, but if you call Queanbeyan City Council and advise them they will then fill your empty green waste bin with fine mulch 4 times per year.

The local primary school this year published the following Recycling Tips for ACT residents. As this was in the old days (mid-2010) they did not make it available electronically, so I’m going to type it out (or use … when it gets obvious or repetitive):

____________________________________________

The recycling from ACT kerbside bins is brought to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Hume. The MRF is purely a sorting plant, designed to sort and bale recycling before sending it on to another venue where it will be turned into something new.

LEAVE LIDS ON CONTAINERS: The lid is more likely to make its way to the next stage of recycling when it is attached to its container. The lid on its own is often so small that it gets lost in the sorting process. It doesn’t matter if the lid is a different material to the container. (Such as a glass jar with a metal lid.) In the end, they will be all separated and recycled.

NO NEED TO RINSE OR WASH YOUR RECYCLABLES: Water is too precious to be wasting it on cleaning recycling. When the recycling comes to the MRF it gets dirty, so washing them beforehand is a waste of water and effort. Your recyclables will be sanitised during the various stages of the recycling process. If you are concerned about your bin becoming smelly, wash or rinse recycling at the end of washing up, when you already have a sink full of water.

LEAVE P.E.T. FROSTED PLASTIC MILK BOTTLES UNFLATTENED: If space allows, please leave these frosted plastic bottles unflattened. Flattened bottles may be identified incorrectly during the sorting process at the MRF and end up going to landfill.

PIZZA BOXES ARE NOW WELCOME: Originally our recycling bins had a divider which resulted in pizza boxes becoming jammed and you would end up with a half emptied recycling bin. The divider has now been removed so you can now place pizza boxes in the recycling bin. Don’t worry about the grease or left over food stuck to the box, it will all be removed in the recycling process.

DON’T FILL PLASTIC BAGS WITH RECYCLING BEFORE PLACING IN THE RECYCLING BIN: The plastic bags (filled with the recyclables) end up in landfill. This is because the plant is unable to recognise that there is recycling in the bag and due to OH&S regulations, the bag is not allowed to be opened…

REMOVING LEFT OVER LIQUID IN CONTAINERS: When too much liquid is left in a container it weighs more than the sort machines expect and the container may end up at landfill…

NO ELECTRICAL LEADS, ROPE OR HOSES: As these items are so long they get caught and wrapped around the plant machinery causing stoppages or break downs…

NO ELECTRICAL GOODS: The plant is not designed to remove such things as toasters and kettles from the stream of recycling and they end up in landfill. Contact Canberra Connect 13 22 81 for information about recycling or reuse options…

NO CLOTHING, LINEN OR SHOES: [Same.]

ROLL ALUMINIUM FOIL IN A BALL: Aluminium foil is a wonderful product to recycle even if it has food stuck to it. Just roll into a ball and place in the recycling bin. If the foil is left flat it may end up with the paper recycling.

WE ACCEPT RECYCLING CONTAINERS FROM THE KITCHEN, BATHROOM, LAUNDRY OR GARAGE: It doesn’t matter where the recycling has come from as long as the container is empty and made from … aluminium, steel, rigid plastic, cardboard/paper or glass. It doesn’t matter if the container once contained hazardous substances such as pool chlorine or garden fertilizer as such containers are sanitized during the recycling process.

ONLY HARD PLASTICS IN THE RECYCLING BIN: If the plastic container is hard or rigid in nature it can go into the recycling bin. If the plastic or wrapping is soft and it scrunches easily, like chip packets and plastic bags, it goes into the rubbish bin. In the case of a packet of biscuits, the tray containing the biscuits is recyclable, but the outside wrapper is not.

DO YOU NEED AN ADDITIONAL RECYCLING BIN? If you are running out of space for your recycling, call Canberra Connect 13 22 81. They will arrange an additional bin for a small yearly fee of $49.90. Alternatively, drop off your extra recycling for free at one of the many Recycling Drop-Off Centres. Or, get to know your neighbour and ask if you can place your overflow into their recycle bin.

We hope that these tips help you. If you have any further questions please call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.

__________________________________________________________

p1 said :

As for the green topped garbage bin they don’t want any of the following:

– Dead animals

So what do I do with the mice I catch? I’ve always put them in a plastic bag and into the green bin.
And I can’t cremate them because they don’t allow hot ashes.
Sheesh!!

Holden Caulfield said :

One other tip worth noting for glass recyclabes is that there is no need to rinse them out before placing them in your bin. During the recycling process they get washed around 12-15 times.

Washing them out before putting them in the bin keeps your bin from smelling of putrid milk, attracting vermin with soft drinks or stale beer, and generally makes for happier neighbours.

Captain RAAF said :

Damn, looks like the cats go into the compost now.

=-(

great for lemon trees

Mothy said :

GB said :

Mothy said :

What’s different in the glass of a drinking glass vs a jar or bottle?

Melting point. Contaminates the load. You know, sometimes people who write instructions like this actually _do_ know more than you.

You know, sometimes the people posting on here actually_DON’T_assume to know more than everyone else, and hence pose questions. Oh wait…..

Thanks for the answer, can I give you the sanctimony back as change?

Good response to what was a dickhead statement made against you.

Damn, looks like the cats go into the compost now.

=-(

GB said :

Mothy said :

What’s different in the glass of a drinking glass vs a jar or bottle?

Melting point. Contaminates the load. You know, sometimes people who write instructions like this actually _do_ know more than you.

You know, sometimes the people posting on here actually_DON’T_assume to know more than everyone else, and hence pose questions. Oh wait…..

Thanks for the answer, can I give you the sanctimony back as change?