Keeping your recycle bin clean isn't about giving it a sponge bath

There is an incredible amount of work going into re-developing the Australian recycling infrastructure so don't give up on your Recycle Bin. And please keep it clean 

Setting aside any potential suspicions about where your recycling cast offs end up, Councils across Australia provide householders with a recycling bin for regular council collection. In pretty much every jurisdiction, you can put paper, cardboard, most plastic, cartons and packaging containers, steel, aluminium and glass jars in your recycle bin.

Simple, right? If only. For many people that yellow bin is an confusing as a financial spreadsheet.

Some people find recycling bins so intimidating that they completely ignore them. Others throw any old thing in and hope for the best. Even those who seem to have the general idea, still have some creeping sense that they haven't quite got it quite right.

Luckily, there is plenty of help around to tell you what your local council says you can't put in your bin and what you can put in your bin.

Here are a few tips on how to keep the stuff you do put in 'recycle clean'. 

• When recycling food containers into your recycle bin, all you need to do is empty the contents and scrape off excess food off them.
• Empty all liquids from containers.
• If your council asks you to, take the lids off plastic bottles, glass jars and bottles before recycling, but generally they stay on.
• Put your items loosely into your bin. Don’t wrap them, bag them or put them into boxes. 
• You don't need to remove container labels.
• Leave metal ring pulls on cans. They are recyclable.
• Rigid plastics without recycle labels can usually be recycled.
• Staples can be left in paper.
• Plastic window envelopes are recyclable in one piece.
• Cartons like long life milk and juice with plastic tops can be left in one piece.
• Never ever ever put your recyclables inside a plastic bag in your recycle bin. Many councils won't even open it. 
• You can recycle glass jars, but not drinking glasses - they are made of tempered glass.
• Do NOT put broken glass in your Recycle Bin.
• Do NOT put SOFT plastics in your Recycle Bin. Soft plastics go to your local supermarket on your next trip. 

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