New Year's Recycling Resolutions

Happy New Year from the team at Cramer Property! 

We hope you had (and are still having) fantastic, safe holidays filled with love, laughter, decadent meals and long, relaxing days. We want to start the year on a really positive note, so we feel that all of us could (and really should) commit to the New Year’s resolution of recycling our way to a healthier planet. 

So many of us get busy, tired or just plain lazy and either dump a bunch of things in the recycling bin that we think are recyclable but we’ve never really checked, or just dump everything in the regular red bin. So I’m going to try and make it easy for you and outline common rubbish misconceptions and recycling rules that really aren’t that hard to follow. 

• The number in a triangle indicates the type of plastic or substance a product is made from and doesn’t always mean it is recyclable! Don’t be fooled if you see the triangle on polystyrene packaging – it is NOT recyclable

• Plastic bags and food packaging should NOT go in the recycle bin as they contaminate recycling and jam machinery. Coles have REDcycle bins where you can place your soft plastics like bread bags, biscuit and confectionery packets, frozen food/rice/pasta and supermarket bags to be recycled into useful new products such as outdoor furniture. Cling wrap and nappies are NOT recyclable

• You do NOT need to rinse recyclable containers – they must just be empty and dry. However if you have time it is best to rinse as this keeps away bad odours and ensures your bins are relatively clean

• Never put anything broken or sharp in the recycle bin. It’s dangerous for collectors and is unable to be recycled. Crockery and drinking glasses are NOT recyclable

• Do NOT throw out lightbulbs, mobile phones or batteries as they create environmental toxicity. These can be disposed of at local libraries and Neighbourhood Service Centres.

• Never throw out e-waste or chemicals. Contact your local council to find ways of disposing of these responsibly

• Don’t just throw out clothing, household items and toys that are in good condition. There are lots of organisations that take these things and distribute them where needed, so check in your local area for the nearest charitable organisation, here are some suggestions for what to and where to dispose clothing; http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/charities/SydneyNSW

• When in doubt, refer to the notice above your bins that shows what is recyclable and if you don’t have one, contact your local council.

• The green bin is the garden organic bin. Small branches, leaves, grass clippings, tree and shrub prunings, plants, flowers and weeds can be placed here. Do NOT put food scraps, soil, rocks, large pieces of plant material, building materials

• Want to go the extra step toward making a difference? Start composting your food scraps and garden waste. If you live in a strata scheme, talk to the Owners’ Committee about purchasing a compost bin. This will provide great food for your common areas gardens and help reduce waste. For ideas on how to get composting, visit www.cleanup.org.au/au/LivingGreener/composting.html 

Let's make 2018 a fantastic year for all of us and for the environment too! 
Love where you live.