Do you understand the recycling codes?

Do you understand the recycling codes?

Have you ever noticed the codes on the bottom of your plastic products? On bottles, containers and other packaging products, you will find what looks like a triangle logo with a number inside. This number indicates what grade the plastic is, and how you should recycle it. These codes are so important when it comes to recycling products but aren’t widely known throughout our communities. 7/10 Australians say that they look for recycling information on packaging, but they are often confused by the information, so we’ve included a few descriptions below of the different grades of plastics that are coded under this program.

1 – PETE – Polyethylene Terephthalate These are often the easiest plastics to recycle. Think products like soft drink bottles and common food packaging. These materials can be placed into your recycling bin and are recycled into plastic bottles and polyester fibres.  

2 – HDPE – High Density Polyethylene This type of material is usually found in packaging for things like detergents, bleach, shampoo, conditioner and milk containers. These materials can be placed into your recycling bin for pick up by your local council and are recycled into more bottles and bags for future use.

3 – V – Polyvinyl Chloride Most people know what PVC looks like when they see it, but PVC includes pipes, toys, packing etc and can be difficult to recycle and a major health threat. PVC has been described as one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. PVC should never be sent to landfill and should always be mechanically recycled so that it can be reused. If you have PVC that you need to recycle, contact your local council to find out the best way to dispose of it.

4 – LDPE – Low-density Polyethylene LDPE is the material used to create things like ice-cream lids, garbage bags, sandwich bags etc and is usually a soft and flexible material that can be recycled into the same thing. Local councils usually do not accept these types of materials.

5 – PP – Polypropylene Polypropylene materials can be used to create products like clothing, tubs, ropes or bottles and can be turned in to fibres when recycled properly. Ecobins are made from a class 5 plastic and are fully recyclable at the end of their life. These materials can be placed in your local council kerbside recycling bin.  

6 – PS – Polystyrene Polystyrene can be difficult to recycle due to its bulky, yet lightweight nature, and the fact that it’s manufactured from petroleum. You should avoid buying products that have this recycling code on them. However, if you do have products that contain this code, try to reuse the material for another use inside your home, or donate it to a local craft shop so that it doesn’t go into landfill. This type of material can not be placed in your kerbside recycling bin.

7 – All other plastics This is the code used for all other types of plastics and should not be placed in to your recycling bin. It can include anything from acrylic to nylon, unfortunately recycling plants do not want this material and worse still, it could ruin an entire truckload of good recycling. As a general rule, most plastic is recyclable, but due to collection, sorting and cleaning facilities, only certain plastics can be accepted by your local council. Codes 1, 2 & 5 can usually be recycled by your local council and codes 3, 4, 6 & 7 should be double checked depending on where you live. It’s important to do your due diligence and to check your products for these codes to ensure that you are recycling them in the correct way, as just one wrong product can send an entire truckload of perfectly good recycling to landfill!

All of this may seem overwhelming, so if you need any extra tips, check out this page here!

TOP 5 TIPS FOR ECO-FRIENDLY GROCERY SHOPPING

The kids are grabbing your legs, screaming, knocking items off the shelves. You have 10 minutes left on your lunchbreak and need to rush back to work. Isles upon isles of goodness staring at you, overwhelming with all their choices. Grocery shopping can be a little overwhelming at times, and you might just want a quick, easy shop. However, this can lead to forgetting about the planet. Shopping is overrun with unnecessary wastage in the name of convenience. Take a breath, clear your thoughts, and reflect how to help the earth that has given us so much. The Ecobin team would love to give you some handy tips on how to reduce your wastage when shopping so that your trip can be as easy and environmentally-friendly as possible!

Tip 1 – Sign me up!
Do you love a good online deal as much as we do? Well, some great brands are offering subscription and delivery options to save you travelling to the store. Farmers Pick is a great option for sustainable produce. With a simple subscription, you can get fresh produce delivered right to your door! Not only is this cheaper and more convenient than travelling to the shops, but it is also better for the environment too! Farmers Pick also uses produces that doesn’t necessarily conform to classic beauty standards but is still delicious nonetheless! Through using this type of food delivery, you are helping prevent imperfect produce being discarded unnecessarily. Using subscription methods can also reduce your likelihood of impulse buying and having food wastage. Great news – these handy subscriptions are not limited to just food! You can also get your eco-friendly toilet paper through Who Gives A Crap, and your body care products through Zero Co. Never running out of products and you don’t have to leave your house? What’s not to love?

Tip 2 – The bag brawl
Households generate 47% of plastic waste in Australia. Whilst we usually aim for the highest score possible, this time we wouldn’t mind dropping a few points. So, let’s aim for a score our parents can proudly put on the fridge and reduce Australia’s plastic waste. Grossed out at the thought of putting your raw produce in the public trolley and conveyor belt? Well, you can be hygienic and eco-friendly! Be a peach and bring your own reusable mesh bags to carry your fruit and veggies instead of using store-provided plastic wastage. Sick of your ice cream melting before you get home? Well, did you know that you can now purchase reusable shopping bags that have special cooler compartments for your fridge and freezer items? Talk about innovative!

Tip 3 – Bulk Up
For non-perishable items, its not a bad idea to buy in bulk. Not only is this usually more cost-effective, but it can also reduce the amount of packaging wasted. Large items use less packaging than individually wrapped items, so why not buy a little more and waste a little less?

Tip 4 – Cars are man’s best friend, no wait that’s dogs!
Driving can be relaxing and convenient, but have you ever stopped to consider the effect on the planet? We might be racing to go outside, but light vehicles (cars, SUVS, etc) contribute to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Meal-planning can help reduce your number of grocery store trips, and thus Australia’s emissions. Walking to the shops is another great way to reduce emissions. The planet wants to breathe easy, so let’s help it do so!

Tip 5 – Reject that receipt
Ink and paper can produce some amazing masterpieces, but your grocery store receipt is no Picasso. So, help reduce the 2.2 million tonnes of paper waste that households produce a year and ask your cashier not to print your receipt. If you’re reeling at the thought of not having a receipt, many places offer to email your receipt instead. There is always a way to reduce our paper usage and save our precious trees. We hope these tips have helped ease your grocery store stress and have shown you how easy eco-friendly shopping really is!