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Auckland Council is reminding citizens that putting the wrong item in recycling bins – even an unwashed milk container – can have consequences far beyond a single household.
It can risk contaminating recyclable materials and reduce what can be successfully recovered and recycled.
The council says recycling contamination costs ratepayers $3.5 million a year, resulting in about 37,000 tonnes of waste being sent to landfill from the recycling facility.
To help curb the issue, the council says it has launched a Let’s Sort It Out recycling campaign.
It’s encouraging Aucklanders to put the right items in the correct bin and avoid contamination that can affect an entire recycling load.
Councillor Richard Hills, the chair of the policy, planning and development committee, says households and businesses can make a big difference.
“More than 30 per cent of the material going into Auckland’s recycling bins is ending up in landfill due to it being contaminated or unrecyclable in the first place.
“That’s a missed opportunity for our environment and our Zero Waste vision for Tāmaki Makaurau and adds significant cost to all residents.
“Small changes make a big difference. It’s up to all of us to think about what we’re putting in our recycling,” says Hills.
“We owe it to the environment and the next generation to continue to do better.”
The council’s waste solutions general manager, Justine Haves, says some of the biggest challenges for recycling come from items that should never have been placed in the bin in the first place.
“Food contamination can quickly spread through a recycling load, contaminating paper, cardboard and containers that might otherwise have been recycled.
“Something as seemingly simple as leftover food can affect much more than a single item.
“The message behind our campaign is that one wrong thing can mess it all up.
“By putting the right items in the right bin, Aucklanders can help protect the quality of recycling and ensure more materials are turned into new products. Simply put, let’s sort it out.”
Among the most common contaminants found in the recycling stream are rotten food, nappies, unwashed milk bottles, garden waste and textiles, says Haves.
- Food waste is particularly problematic because it can leak or spread across other materials during collection and sorting.
- Rotten fruit and vegetables, food scraps and leftover liquids can contaminate otherwise recyclable paper, cardboard and containers.
- Food scraps should stay out of recycling bins. Aucklanders can instead use their food scraps bin or compost suitable scraps at home. Households that need more room for food scraps can request a second food scraps bin free of charge.
- Nappies and unwashed milk bottles are also common contaminants. While nappies present obvious hygiene concerns, spoiled milk left in containers can leak onto paper, cardboard and other recyclables, turning what should have been good recycling into waste.
- Garden waste and textiles are another common source of contamination. Although many people assume these items are harmless, they cannot be processed through the kerbside recycling system and can interfere with sorting operations.
- Occasionally, recycling loads contain even more unusual items, including livestock remains, highlighting the importance of using recycling bins only for accepted materials.
To help keep recycling clean and effective, Aucklanders are encouraged by the council to:
- Empty and rinse containers before recycling.
- Put food scraps in their food scraps bin.
- Place recycling loose in the bin, not in bags.
- Keep nappies, textiles, garden waste and rubbish out of recycling bins.
- Check recycling guidelines if unsure about an item.
- For more information on what can and cannot be recycled, see: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/recycling
