Careless residents are hampering Geelong’s recycling efforts and potentially costing hundreds of thousands of ratepayer dollars, according to City Hall.
The City’s William Tieppo said Geelong’s recycling contamination rate had reached 9.53 per cent, filling limited landfill space with recyclable materials.
“We are urging everyone to make sure they’re putting the correct items in the appropriate bins,” he said.
Mr Teippo said if the contamination rate passes 10 per cent the revenue the City received from the recycling processing company would reduce by up to $350,000.
“This would a significant impact on the City’s overall operating budget.”
Mr Tieppo said one of the most common mistakes was residents putting recyclables into plastic bags prior to placing them in the recycling bin.
“This leads to all this material making its way into landfill,” he said.
“Plastic bags are a huge problem, so don’t use them to tie up your recycling or green waste. Instead, keep recyclables and garden waste loose and in the correct bins.”
“Paper, cardboard, glass and rigid plastic – such as strawberry punnets and ice cream containers – can all go in the yellow-lid bin.
Soft plastics – like glad wrap and bread bags – and other general rubbish go in your red-lid bin.”
Soft plastics can be recycled at specially marked bins at participating Coles supermarkets.
Mr Tieppo said the City would start a bin inspection and recycling education program next month to curb contamination.
“Cameras will be fixed to selected recycling trucks to help monitor where rubbish has been incorrectly placed in yellow lid bins,” he said.
“A sticker will then be placed on these bins, informing residents that plastic bags – or whatever the items may be – don’t belong in the recycling bin.”
