BYO bid to contain recycling troubles
SURF Coast shoppers are being urged to take their own containers to supermarkets and takeaway shops in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic packaging entering landfill amid the region’s waste crisis.
Recycling experts have also encouraged shoppers across the Geelong region to deposit their soft plastics into the REDcycle bins at major supermarkets, for them to be repurposed into a range of recycled products.
The recycling strategies come as about 30,000 tonnes of the region’s kerbside recycling is expected to be dumped into landfill annually, due to the closure of SKM Recycling.
Consumers can deposit soft plastics, such as the packaging on confectionary, pasta, rice and bread into the REDcycle bins, which then get transformed into items like outdoor furniture by Australian manufacturer Replas.
Surf Coast Shire Mayor Rose Hodge encouraged people to take their own reusable containers and cups when shopping to minimise the waste they take home.
“Victoria’s food safety regulations do not prohibit a food business from serving food or drink in a container provided by a customer; it is a business decision,” she said.
“Unfortunately single-use plastic has become common when we buy from takeaway shops, cafes, delis and more.
“Next time you’re shopping, consider where the packaging is going to end up and consider if there’s a better choice you can make.”
Surf Coast Wholefoods owner Annabel Reiter said it was easy for businesses to adapt to customers using their own containers.
“I think it’s one of those things that initially takes a bit of planning to make it become a habit, but for us and a lot of our customers it’s second nature,” she said.
“We try to encourage glass jars because that’s something people often have lying around.”
Victorian Waste Management Association executive officer Mark Smith advised consumers to recycle in every way possible despite the crisis, including embracing alternative options such as container schemes and REDcycle.
“It’s only going to be a short-term problem,” he said.
“The great thing about the REDcycle program is that it requires consumers to take a bit more responsibility of their waste management.
“It’s the fact that people go out of their way to collect plastics and deposit them at the supermarkets, which is very different to putting everything into the one bin at home.”
REDcycle spokeswoman Rebecca Gleghorn said there had been an influx of materials deposited into the bins, but the increase may not be a direct result of the waste crisis.
According to Ms Gleghorn, the program which rolled out across Australian supermarkets in 2013, recovered more than 4.3 million pieces of soft plastic nationwide each week.
Woolworths confirmed it had recycled 500 tonnes of soft plastics through REDcycle in Geelong, while Coles had diverted 2.6 million pieces of plastic in the region in the past year.
Mr Smith said education was part of the solution to the crisis, including teaching consumers how to recycle correctly and reduce their waste consumption.