Recycling can be confusing, but every step you take to do the right thing can make a big difference.
Every November Council celebrate National Recycling Week to promote the reduce, reuse, recycle message and support our residents to learn more about sustainability and our waste collection system.
This year National Recycling Week will be held 7–13 November with the theme 'Waste isn’t Waste until it’s Wasted'.
The week has been promoted by Planet Ark since 1996 and aims to improve recycling knowledge, build better recycling habits and build trust in recycling.
Here are some handy hints to help you reduce the waste sent to landfill:
► Check it before you chuck it – check packaging for the Australia Recycling Label that tells you which item goes in which bin.
► Drop it off – discover drop off locations where you can recycle tricky items such as mobile phones, printer cartridges or batteries.
► Compost food scraps – this simple act can reduce the amount of materials in your household rubbish bin by up to 40 per cent. Food waste is also accepted in the green lid food and garden bin.
► Put it in loose – keep recyclables out of bags otherwise they won’t be sorted correctly and will end up in landfill.
► Leave it out – items that don’t belong in the yellow lid recycling bin include soft plastics, food waste, crockery and nappies. They cause contamination and can see whole truck loads end up in landfill.
► Buy better – buy second hand, buy in bulk, buy products made from recycled material.
Council is holding a range of events and activities to encourage residents to consider all the ways they can divert waste from landfill.
Recycling workshops and tours
Council will celebrate National Recycling Week with sustainable workshops and a waste tour.
These two events are unfortunately sold-out - T-Shirt to Tote Bag Workshop and Sustainable Art Workshop, however spaces are available to register for the ‘Follow your Waste Tour’ on Friday 11 November. If you have ever wondered what happens to the rubbish in your household wheelie bins after they get emptied by the collection trucks, then come along on this tour and follow the journey of your garbage, food and garden waste. Limited places available, bookings essential.
Reuse and recycle
Council’s Reuse and Recycle Drop Off Day is back on Saturday 26 November from 8am-1pm at Greaves Reserves at Dandenong.
Residents can take advantage of the opportunity to dispose of larger unwanted household goods suitable for donation, or electronic and household goods suitable for recycling.
This service is in addition to the free one-off annual hard waste collection provided to all residents of Greater Dandenong.
Recycle your bike
Bring your unwanted bicycle to Council’s Reuse and Recycle Drop Off Day on 26 November and Brainwave Bikes will refurbish it, preventing it from going to landfill.
Brainwave Bikes is a social enterprise that offers affordable bikes to families, while providing employment and traineeships for people with disabilities.
For more information visit brainwavebikes.org.au.
