Plastic recycling

Tips for householders

Which plastics can be recycled?
You can recycle plastic bottles and containers with the following symbols:

• code 1, PET (e.g., soft drink bottles);
• code 2, HDPE (e.g., milk and juice bottles);
• code 3, V, e.g..(strawberry punnets);
• code 4, LDPE (e.g., ice cream lids);
• code 5, PP (e.g., ice cream containers);
• code 6, PS (e.g. yoghurt containers).

Place recycliables in your yellow topped recycling bin, which is collected fortnightly for residents.

You can also return plastic bags to those supermarkets that collect them for recycling.

Preparation of plastics before recycling

1. Remove lids or caps from bottles and place separately in your recycling bin
2. Wash and squash bottles.

No room in your yellow topped recycling bin?
There is no limit to the number of recycling bins you can have at home. It costs $65.00* per year (2006-07 financial year) for each additional recycling bin, for a fortnightly collection.  Just call Council for details.

Did you know that clean glass, paper and cardboard, scrap metal and plastics can be dropped off free of charge at the Wollongong Council’s waste depots? This might be helpful if you have more recycling than can fit in your yellow bin.

Alternatively, why not ask your neighbour to see whether they have spare room in their recycling bin and offer to return the favour

*Council’s fees and charges are adjusted at July 1 each year. 

Recycling process:

1. Plastics collected for recycling must first be sorted and separated into polymer types which are done at the Materials Recycling Facility at Kembla Grange run by Thiess Services. 
2. The recycling codes help recycling contractors to sort materials. Bales of different types of plastics are then returned to factories for reprocessing.
   1. large contaminants are removed manually;
   2. the plastics are either shredded, chopped or ground and then washed to remove further contaminants;
   3. the material formed into pellets, is ready for remaking into new plastic products.

How much plastic does Wollongong recycle?
In 2004-05, residents of Wollongong recycled 890 tonnes of plastics, which represented 6.5% of all products recycled by residents. Australians use more than 1.3 million tonnes of plastic every year – more than 71 kg for every person. Most plastics can be recycled, but due to the difficulty in collecting, sorting, cleaning and reprocessing, at present it is only economically viable to recycle PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP & PS types of plastic from domestic sources.

Positive environmental effects of recycling plastics:

• Recycling one tonne of plastics saves enough energy to run a refrigerator for a month.
• Every time you recycle 41 plastic bottles, enough energy is saved to run a refrigerator for one hour.

Some uses for plastics and recycled plastics in Australia

Code 1, PET:
Name of plastic: Polyethylene terephthalate PET.
Description: Clear tough plastic, may be used as a fibre.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Soft drink and mineral water bottles.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Soft drink bottles, (multi-layer) detergent bottles, clear film for packaging, carpet fibres, fleecy jackets.

Code 2, HDPE
Name of plastic: High density polyethylene HDPE.
Description: Very common plastic, usually white or coloured.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Milk and cream bottles, bottles for shampoo and cleaners, milk crates.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Compost bins, detergent bottles, crates, mobile garbage bins, agricultural pipes, pallets, kerbside recycling crates.

Code 3, V
Name of plastic: Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride UPVC.
Description: Hard rigid plastic, may be clear.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Clear cordial and juice bottles, plumbing pipes and fittings.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Detergent bottles, tiles, plumbing pipe fittings.

Code 3, V
Name of plastic: Plasticised polyvinyl chloride PPVC.
Description: Flexible, clear, elastic plastic.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Garden hose, shoe soles, blood bags and tubing.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Hose inner core, industrial flooring.

Code 4, LDPE
Name of plastic: Low density polyethylene LDPE.
Description: Soft, flexible plastic.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Lids of ice-cream containers,  garbage bins.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Film for builders, industry, packaging and plant nurseries, bags.

Code 5, PP
Name of plastic: Polypropylene PP.
Description: Hard, but flexible plastic - many uses.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Ice-cream containers, drinking straws, hinged lunch boxes.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Compost bins, kerbside recycling crates, worm factories.

Code 6, PS
Name of plastic: Polystyrene PS.
Description: Rigid, brittle plastic. May be clear, glassy.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Yoghurt containers, plastic cutlery, imitation crystal “glassware”.
Some uses for plastic made from recycled waste plastic: Clothes pegs, coat hangers, office accessories, spools, rulers, video/CD boxes.

Code 6, PS
Name of plastic: Expanded polystyrene EPS.
Description: Foamed, lightweight, energy absorbing, thermal insulation.
Some uses for virgin plastic: Hot drink cups, takeaway food containers, meat trays, packaging.

Code 7, other
Name of plastic: other.
Description: Includes all other plastics, including acrylic and nylon.


Sources:
Visy recycling website