Top 10 Recycling Mistakes and Tips in 2024

Millions of tons of rubbish can be prevented from ending up in landfills by recycling properly, however typical mistakes are still made by many.

According to recent data from Sustainability Victoria, Victorian households produced 2.37 million tons of waste between 2019 and 2020. It sounds like a lot, but about a quarter of that—0.58 million tons—was actually recyclable materials that could be turned into new products.

The good news is that since 2001, Victorians have increased their recycling by 59%, while general waste going to landfills has only grown by 10%.

However, to make sure your paper, aluminum, glass, and recyclable plastics are actually getting recycled and not ending up in landfills, it’s important to avoid some common recycling mistakes.

During the 2019-2020 period, 13.3% of the recycling collected was contaminated, and this number has increased by nearly 3% from the previous year.

Here are some of the most frequent recycling mistakes and tips on how to avoid them.

Common recycling mistakes

Putting your recycling in plastic bags 

Putting your recyclables in a rubbish bag might seem like a good idea, but it actually makes things worse. When these bags arrive at the recycling center, they can jam up the sorting machines and create safety risks for workers because dangerous or sharp objects inside the bags are hidden. Plus, those bags can’t be recycled themselves.

One of the biggest recycling mistakes is bagging up recyclables. According to Sustainability Victoria, 16% of Victorians are doing this.

Instead of using a bag, just toss each item directly into your kerbside bin. You can keep your recyclables loose in a large plastic bin, tub, cardboard box, or basket before transferring them to the kerbside bin.

Not knowing what your council recycles 

In Victoria, your local council handles household waste, but different councils might have different rules for what they accept for recycling. For example, some councils will take empty aerosol cans, while others require them to go in the general rubbish.

To find out what can be recycled, check your council’s website. If you’re unsure or moving to a new area, it’s a good idea to double-check with your new council. Recycling rules can vary, so it’s best to make sure you’re up to date with what they accept.

Not separating your glass 

By 2030, most households in Victoria will have four kerbside bins, including a purple-lidded one specifically for recyclable glass.

Some councils have already started using these glass bins, so if yours has one, remember to keep your glass recyclables separate from the rest. It can be helpful to have a separate container for glass before putting it in the purple bin.

Make sure you’re only putting the right types of glass in the bin. Glass jars (like those from jam, sauces, and condiments) and bottles (such as for wine, beer, juice, and oil) are accepted. But drinking glasses, like tumblers and wine glasses, should not be included.

If you don’t have a purple bin yet, keep placing your glass in the yellow-lidded mixed recycling bin. Be sure to remove any lids and put them in the general rubbish before recycling the glass.

Putting the wrong (or soiled) items into your recycling 

Many household items are often mistakenly thought to be recyclable, like tetra packs (used for UHT milk and liquid stock), coffee cups, tissues, nappies, and paper towels.

Unfortunately, none of these items can be recycled. However, you can compost tissues and paper towels, and some councils might accept them in their green waste bins.

There are also items that are usually recyclable but need to be sorted out based on their condition. For example, cardboard pizza boxes might seem recyclable, but if they’re too greasy or have food stuck on them, they can’t be recycled. In this case, you should put them in the regular garbage or cut them up and add them to your home compost bin.

Not knowing your plastic numbers 

Households use a lot of different plastics, and not all of them can be recycled. Some need to go in the recycling bin, while others should be thrown away with general waste. If you put the wrong plastic in the wrong bin, it can spoil the recycling or end up in landfill when it could have been recycled.

The good news is, there’s a simple way to figure out which plastics can be recycled. Look for a number inside a triangle made of arrows on the item. If the number is 1, 2, or 5, it can be recycled. If it’s a different number or doesn’t have a number at all, it should go in the general waste bin.

Also Read: White House Unveils New Plastics Plan: Guide 2024

Recycling your e-waste in the wrong place

E-waste—basically anything with a battery, power cord, or plug—can mostly be recycled. But don’t just toss your old microwave, phone, or laptop into your yellow recycling bin at home.

Many big retail stores will take certain e-waste items for recycling, and your local council might also offer e-waste collection as part of a hard rubbish pick-up.

Recycling e-waste is important because it keeps harmful chemicals out of landfills and lets us recover valuable metals from these products. This reduces the need to mine new metals. 

Recycling plastic plates, cutlery and cups

As of February 1, 2023, single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws, and drink stirrers were banned across Victoria. These items make up a third of the litter we find and are tough to recycle. If you have any of these at home, they should go in your general waste bin.

Single-use plastic cups (like the ones you might use for a beer at a game) aren’t banned yet, but they should also be put in the general rubbish.

Shredding your paper 

Paper is one of the most recycled materials in Victoria, but shredded paper needs a little extra care when recycling.

If you’re putting shredded paper in your recycling bin, make sure it’s in a paper bag or cardboard box. This makes it easier to sort at the recycling center. Some councils might not accept shredded paper, so if that’s the case, you can toss it in your compost bin instead.

Not emptying your containers 

Make sure all your containers are empty before recycling them. If they’re not, they can mess up the recycling process and even clog the sorting machines.

You don’t need to scrub food and drink containers clean—just give them a quick rinse or scrape before tossing them in the bin.

Also, things like antifreeze, ammonia cleaners, and fuel are considered hazardous. These should be recycled through Victoria’s Detox Your Home program.

Forgetting to turn your foil into golf balls

Metal is one of the most recycled materials in Australia, with 90% of it being turned into new products. This includes aluminum, like the foil from food cans.

When recycling aluminum foil, make sure to scrunch it into a ball about the size of a golf ball or larger. So, if you have a bunch of foil from things like Easter egg wrappers, gather them up and scrunch them together before tossing them in the recycling bin.