Did you know what impact recycling can make to our environment? Then, here are some recycling facts that Aussie's need to know!

1. By recycling your household waste you will help save our precious
natural resources. Each year kerbside recycling can help save:
With the shift towards digital media and paperless offices, it may surprise
you to find out that paper is still one of the world’s most commonly used
consumer items.
Recycling just one tonne of paper saves:
13 Trees
When it comes to paper and
cardboard recycling rates,
Australia is one of the world
leaders at 87%.
However, Australian’s still
consume around 230kg per
person per year in
un-recycled paper.
More than 90% of plastics
produced are created from
virgin fossil feedstocks.
Recycled plastic uses
around 88% of the energy
required to make
new plastics.
Mr Waster loves facts and he loves recycling –
so of course he would like a list of interesting facts
about recycling. Everyone knows that recycling is very
important to reduce landfill and waste impacting on
the natural environment. Here we've compiled some
recycling facts Australia needs to know about!
Recycling Facts
Australia Needs
To Know!
Reduce Pollution
Collecting, refining and
processing raw materials
contributes to air and water
pollution. Recycling minimises
these processes, reducing
pollution.
Lower Energy Usage
Recycling reduces the amount
of energy expenditure that is
required for the extraction,
refinement, transportation and
processing of raw materials
into products.
Why Recycle?
Recycling Saves
Reduce Landfill
Waste that would normally be
sent to the tip is reused, resulting
in less space required for landfill
and less need for more waste
disposal facilities.
Protect Animals And
Their Habitats
Recycling reduces the amount of
raw materials being extracted
from the environment. The
extraction of these resources
often result in the destruction of
natural habitats. Recycling also
reduces the amount of waste that
leaks in to our waterways.
11,000
Mega-litres of water
That’s more than enough to fill more that
4,500 Olympic sized swimming pools!
386,000
tonnes of green house gases
That’s the same as taking more than
64,000 cars off the road for a whole year!
Paper Recycling Facts
Plastic is one of the most widely used materials across a multitude of
industries. However, it’s production takes a heavy toll on our environment.
Producing new plastic requires oil and coal, and is
a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions
which play a big part in climate change.
of plastics find their way into our water ways.
Plastic Recycling Facts
87%
230kg
4,100kWh
of electricity
2.5Barrels of oil
4m
3
of landfill
31,780litres of water
8 milliontonnes
are killed by marine waste every year.
An estimated 1 millionsea creatures
saves enough energy to power a computer
for 25 minutes.
Recycling 1 plastic bottle
1m
3
1m
3
1m
3
1m
3
CO2
90%
88%
25
minutes
What to Recycle
Metal
• Aerosol cans (including deodorant)
• Aluminium foil baking trays
• Baby formula tins
• Cooking oil tins
• Food and drink cans
• Pet food cans
Plastic
• Cake and biscuit trays
• Cleaning product bottles
• Deodorant (roll on)
• Drink bottles (juice, milk)
• Punnets (berry)
• Shampoo, conditioner and soap
bottles (including pumps)
• Sports drink bottles (reusable)
• Take away food containers
• Yoghurt containers
Paper and Cardboard
• Butcher / Deli paper
• Cartons (milk, juice.etc)
• Cereal boxes
• Envelopes
• Long life cartons
• Junk mail, newspapers and
magazines
• Paper plates
• Phone books
• Pizza boxes
• Toilet rolls
• Wrapping paper
• Washing powder boxes
Glass
• Bottles
• Jars
The following items can generally be recycled in your home recycle bin,
but check your local council website. For business recycling it's best to get
in touch with a waste management company to discuss your needs.
What not to Recycle
• Plastic bags
• Plastic wrap
• Shredded paper
(this can go in your garden
organics bin)
• Clothes
• Toys
• Nappies
• White goods
• Heat-resistant glass,
such as Pyrex
• Crystal
• Organic waste
(this can go in your garden
organics bin or compost)
• Pens
• Furniture
• Car parts
• Sharps
(needles and/or syringes)
• Foam rubber
The following items should never be disposed of in your home recycle bin.
Infographic provided by
www.waster.com.au
Sources:
http://ausfpa.com.au/about/pulp-paper/
http://www.australianscience.com.au/environmental-science/paper-consumption-impact-in-australia/
http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/-/media/resources/documents/publications-and-research/knowledge-archive/resource-smart-government-program/archive-rs-fact-file-2007.pdf
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Ocean_Factsheet_Pollution.pdf
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/EllenMacArthurFoundation_TheNewPlasticsEconomy_Pages.pdf
http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home/Waste-and-recycling/Recycling/Recycling-bins/Plastic
http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-Your-Home/Waste-and-recycling/Recycling/Why-recycle