Most plastics are non-biodegradable and will persist indefinitely in landfill. They are derived from petroleum, an important non-renewable resource. By recycling plastic products the demand for oil is reduced. Many types of plastics are accepted by commercial recyclers by contract or as part of co-mingled recycling, where they are collected, shredded and extruded for use in new plastic products. Some local councils also provide this service for local businesses.
Check out our Case Study of a business that found a plastics recycling solution for their office.
Bulka bags are large plastic bags or sacks used to carry bulk items such as seeds, flour, sugar, milk powders, fertiliser, sand, mulch and more. They can be recycled through specialised services.
CDs and DVDs are non-biodegradable and contain toxic chemicals and metals that can contaminate the environment if landfilled. Instead, CDs and DVDs can be repaired or recycled through specialised services to recover resources.
Note: recyclers will likely only accept commercial quantities and not small amounts from households.
Packaging and containers are made up from materials such as plastic, cardboard, glass and steel. Over 5 million tonnes of packaging are used in Australia every year.
Rigid or solid plastics refers to items that have been moulded into a hard shape like tubs, buckets, water tanks, bumper bars, and plastic furniture.
Plastics are made from non-renewable resources such as oil, gas and coal. By recycling plastics scraps this conserves these natural resources, diverts non-biodegradable waste from landfill and enables the production of new plastic products.
Plastic strapping is a versatile product used to secure items like cardboard boxes and baled materials for transport in many industries.
Polystyrene foam is recyclable but only when it is collected through specialised recycling services available to businesses.
Please note the following products cannot be accepted for recycling: extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam including packing peanuts, meat trays, foam egg cartons, and disposable food service items such as cups and clamshell containers.
Soft or flexible plastics are items that can easily be scrunched in your hand, such as plastic wrap.
Video and audio tapes are non-biodegradable and can persist in landfill indefinitely adding to the growing e-waste problem. Instead they can be repaired or recycled through specialised services. Note: recyclers will likely only accept commercial quantities and not small amounts from households.
