Published on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 at 2:56:04 PM
Ongoing changes in global waste management has resulted in a further crackdown on the kinds of plastic Australia is able to ship to China for recycling.
China is now only accepting clear or common white type 1 and 2 plastic milk, mineral water, soft drink, juice and water bottles only.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said despite the latest crackdown the blue bin plastic recycling program will continue.
“We know our community wants us to take action on recycling and reducing waste,” he said.
“Which is why we have been expanding the bin service to areas such as Walkaway and Greenough and are finalising the implementation of a 12 month Food Organic and Garden Organic (FOGO) trial,” he said.
Mayor Van Styn urges the community to follow the new directions on the blue bins to ensure their recycling efforts do not go to waste.
“Currently, the contents of blue bins are picked up in clean rubbish trucks and delivered to the Tip Shop where the plastics are sorted and processed for shipping to Perth,” he said.
“From Tuesday 11 September, blue bins that display the new recycling information that contain plastics other than the type 1 and 2 clear or common white plastics will be considered contaminated and will go directly to landfill.
“Although countries such as China are still buying our recyclable waste, they will continue to introduce more restrictions as they no longer want to be a dumping ground for our contaminated plastics, textiles and mixed paper waste.
“Now more than ever, we need a national strategy that resolves our recycling and waste problem here in Australia as shipping our recyclable plastics to other countries will someday no longer be an option,” he added.
There are currently 17 blue bin drop off points located across the City for the purpose of recycling type 1 and 2 plastic milk, mineral water, soft drink and water bottles only.
To identify what plastics are type 1 and 2, look for the symbol on the item.
People are also reminded to remove bottle lids and rinse the bottles out before recycling.
The locations of the bins are:
- Beachlands Primary School – Corner of Whitfield St and Bradley St
- Bluff Point Primary School – 18 Mitchell St
- Spalding Horse and Pony Club turning bay – 556 Chapman Road
- Drummond Cove – Bayside Park
- Geraldton Primary School – Augustus St
- Geraldton Surf Lifesaving Club – 260 Willcock Drive
- Greenough Museum & Gardens – 11 Phillips Road
- Leaning Tree Community School – 74 Macedonia Drive, Glenfield
- Mt Tarcoola Primary School – Acacia St
- Paringa Park – Paringa St, Mount Tarcoola
- PCYC – 105 Pass St, Wonthella
- QEII Seniors and Community Centre Carpark – 88 Durlacher Street
- Strathalbyn Christian College – 15 Cedar Cres
- Tip Shop - 61 Landfill Lane, Narngulu
- Waggrakine Primary School – Hall Rd
- Walkaway Primary School – Evans Road
- Wandina Primary School – 29 Ajax Dr
For more information about recycling in Geraldton, head to https://bit.ly/2JdBupS
PICTURE CAPTION:
New stickers display what can be recycled in the blue bins.
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