Recycling

Recycling is essential for creating a sustainable future in the Gympie region. When you use the recycling bin, you help recover materials to create new products, fostering a circular economy. This effort significantly reduces waste, conserves valuable resources, and protects our environment.

Some benefits of recycling include:

  • New life for materials: Recycling gives discarded materials a second chance, extending their life cycle and keeping them in circulation.
  • Environmental impact: By recycling, we reduce the need for new materials, leading to significant savings in water and energy used in production processes.
     

About Recycling

  • Accepted materials in the yellow lid recycling bin are as follows. 

    Category Items 
    Glass Beverage bottles, food jars, jam jars, sauce bottles, vitamin bottles (keep lids on)
    Metal (Steel and Aluminium) Empty deodorant cans, empty fly spray cans, soft drink cans, aluminium foil and trays, food tin cans, pet food tin cans
    Plastic Firm and flexible containers, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, takeaway containers, ice cream containers, cordial bottles, laundry bottles, milk bottles, sauce bottles, soft drink bottles, yoghurt containers, margarine/butter tubs, juice bottles, biscuit trays
    Paper Newspapers, magazines, brochures, envelopes, greeting cards, junk mail, office paper, toilet paper rolls, post-it notes
    Cardboard Beer cartons, cereal boxes, egg cartons, cardboard packaging, long-life milk cartons/poppers

  • Contamination Warning

    Proper recycling is crucial to prevent contamination. Incorrect items in your recycling bin can lead to entire loads being sent to landfill. Here are some items that cannot be recycled:

    CATEGORY ITEMS
    Plastic Plastic bags, food packets, soft plastics, other plastic items not from your kitchen, laundry or bathroom
    Waste Nappies, food waste, polystyrene, ceramics, crockery, bubble wrap, cling wrap, tissues, toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes
    Green Waste Grass clippings, rocks, soil, tree stumps
    Glass Drinking glasses, pyrex storage containers, broken glassware, mirrors
    Hazardous Materials Batteries, gas bottles, syringes, chemicals, pesticides, light bulbs, motor oil containers, paint
    Electronic Devices TVs, laptops, mobile phones, vapes, electronic devices
    Other Clothing, shoes, textiles, wire, scrap metal, toys, coat hangers, ink cartridges

    • Keep it Clean: Always rinse containers before placing them in the recycling bin to remove any food residue.
    • Keep it Loose: Do not place your recyclables in plastic bags, as these can entangle machinery at recycling facilities.
    • Size Matters: Ensure items are larger than the palm of your hand; smaller items may fall through sorting equipment and go unrecycled.
    • Remove Lids: Dispose of smaller lids in the waste bin. If larger lids are attached to containers, please remove and recycle them separately.
    • Be a Change Maker: Recycle at a container deposit scheme and get a 10-cent refund for every eligible container you return.
    • Make Sorting Simple: Keep a seperate sorting basket for recycables in your kitchen, laundry and bathroom. 
    • Alternative Disposal: Many household items like old clothes, toys and batteries are not suitable for recycling through your yellow lid bin but can be recycled through a range of alternative disposable programs offered by community organisations and retailers. 
    • Check it: If you are unsure on whether or not an item can be recycled refer to the A - Z Recycling Index or the Waste Wise App to check what goes in each bin.

  • Recycling Alley at the Gympie Waste Management Facility on Bonnick Road is an invaluable resource for our community, providing a convenient and responsible way to recycle a diverse range of materials. This dedicated space makes it easy for residents to dispose of:

    • Flattened Cardboard
    • Co-mingled Household Recycling
    • Electronic Waste
    • Vehicle Batteries
    • Household Batteries (with clear tape on ends)
    • Empty LPG Cylinders
    • Empty Fire Extinguishers
    • Paint (up to 100L in 20L containers)
    • Motor Oil (up to 100L in 20L containers)
    • Clean Polystyrene
    • drumMuster (empty containers)
    • Empty Aerosols

    Domestic customers enjoy FREE disposal, ensuring that everyone can contribute to a cleaner environment. By utilizing Recycling Alley, you’re not only reducing waste but also helping to conserve valuable resources. Just remember to recycle right and avoid contaminating materials! For more information please refer to our waste management facility Locations & Hours.

  • Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling after it’s been picked up?

    Recyclable materials collected from recycle bins in Gympie go to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This is where materials are sorted into categories and prepared for transport and sale.

    The MRF sorts our recycling into five main categories:

    1. paper and cardboard
    2. aluminium
    3. steel cans and aerosols
    4. glass bottles and jars
    5. plastic containers and bottles

  • Watch the video below to explore a Material Recovery Facility and its sorting processes and see how your recyclables are turned into valuable materials for a sustainable future.

Still feeling confused? Watch the video below to learn more on what can go in your yellow lid recycling bin.


 

Understanding the Waste Hierarchy

The waste hierarchy is a simple way to think about managing waste that helps protect our environment. It prioritises actions we can take, starting with the best options: preventing waste, reusing items, recycling materials, and finally disposing of what we can't use.

Why recycling is great

Recycling is an important step because it saves natural resources, reduces the amount of waste in landfills, and helps lower pollution. By turning old materials into new products, recycling supports a healthier planet. However, there are even better choices we can make before we get to recycling.

Tips for avoiding and reducing waste

  1. Buy Less: Evaluate your needs before making purchases. Aim to buy only what you truly need to avoid excess.
  2. Choose Sustainable Products: Opt for items with minimal packaging or those made from recycled materials.
  3. Plan Meals: Reduce food waste by planning meals, using leftovers creatively, and shopping with a list.
  4. Digital Over Paper: Whenever possible, go digital to reduce paper waste, whether it's for bills, notes, or subscriptions.
  5. Repair Instead of Replace: Before discarding broken items, consider repairing them to extend their lifespan.

Donate, Reuse, and Upcycle

  • Donate: Gently used clothing, furniture, and household items can find new life through donation. Check with local charities and op shops to see if they are accepting contributions.
  • Reuse: Get creative with items you already own. Repurpose jars for storage, use old t-shirts as cleaning rags, or find new ways to enjoy items before they’re considered waste.
  • Upcycle: Transform items that might otherwise be discarded into something new and functional. From turning pallets into furniture to creating art from scrap materials, upcycling is a great way to reduce waste while expressing your creativity.

By understanding and applying the waste hierarchy, we can make smarter choices that extend beyond recycling. Together, we can make a significant impact on our environment.
 

Recycling Resources

Enhance your recycling knowledge with our comprehensive resources:

Join us in our mission to recycle right and create a sustainable future for Gympie!

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