Regular audits of yellow top kerbside recycling bins across Tasman show that most of us are getting it right!
Every month, our contractor randomly audits up to 400 bins to check that the correct items are being put out in the yellow bins, and tags are attached to let people know they’re doing the right thing or not.
Over the last six months, on average more than 85 percent of us are using our bins correctly.
If a bin doesn’t meet the standard, a recycling leaflet is left in the home’s letterbox to remind people what should and shouldn’t go in the bin.
A nationwide standard was introduced at the beginning of last month, but in Tasman, we were already collecting “the right stuff” of plastic containers 1, 2 and 5, cans, glass and paper/cardboard, so it’s business as usual.
There are three simple habits you can adopt that mean your bin is always compliant.
Get the plastics right, take the lids off, and make sure the items are clean.
Contamination from dirty packaging is the biggest frustration and cause of concern with recycling.
Look at the number on your plastics. Containers like milk and fizzy drink bottles, shampoo bottles, large yoghurt containers and some meat trays are usually made of plastics 1, 2 and 5 and are good to go.
... And for coffee drinkers, sorry we can’t recycle coffee cups or lids – the cups are coated in plastic and the lids are made of non-recyclable plastic.
Some photos of the not so good bins:
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