Come on Australia - we can do it too Sweden’s recycling is so revolutionary the country has run out of rubbish
I would like to see Australia invest in more recycling infrastructure rather than simply sending large amounts of it overseas. I think we need to take more responsibility for the waste we generate - the pollution situation in our oceans is becoming critical.
This is far more critical now, as China has stopped accepting Australian recycling waste, and other Asian countries are likely to reach capacity. China's recycling 'ban' throws Australia into a very messy waste crisis
Wait a second, are they just burning it? While one could argue it's better than burying, it hardly recycling. Have to modify people behaviours and also manufacturers of products E.g. ban non bio degradable plastic packaging, charged the levy on all products in containers so that out the convenience of pre package is questioned, etc etc . We've got to stop using carrots and start using financial sticks. The best way to recycle is not to need to in the first place shop at whole food places where you can, use reusable bags (eg EarthsTribe Produce Bags - Large or Small), use containers to put meat in at the butcher, choose less packaging e.g buy dry lentils rather than canned.
Most definitely! I also believe Australian's need a major mindset adjustment. We can cut down massively on plastic pollution at point to purchase. I am always shocked (and have made the odd comment) in the supermarket, to see people putting items such as banana's or melons, that come in their own disposable skin, into plastic bags ... there is so much plastic packaging in supermarkets it's horrifying. If I forget to take in my mesh vege bags, or don't have enough, I simply use the paper "mushroom" one's I would also like to see the recycling take the soft plastics as well
There are so many small - and such simple - changes that can be taken to add up to huge results Biodegradable Coffee Cups Embedded With Seeds Grow Into Trees When Thrown Away
This is an encouraging story. These Indian fishermen take plastic out of the sea and use it to build roads
Could the answer to Australia's recycling crisis lie in road building? only 300 metres ! has anyone from Craigieburn driven this road ? I feel its a bit like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted if we can stop (keep reducing) using the plastic in the first place, we wont need to melt it down and disguised into a road surface although anything that can help keep it out of the oceans is a start.
Countries accepting our waste have limits on how mixed it is, we can't meet the standards that our councils have agreed to with these places. Councils looking for a cheap outcome opt for a mixed recycling bin rather than expecting residents to sort their own crap (free labour) with the alternative being two recycling bins - admittedly some Inner-city suburbs don't have space for 4 separate waste bins (oh a new use for dunny lanes). I have to empty and sort the recycling bucket at least once a day (dang kids/first world problem). Why does fruit need to be repackaged into little plastic buckets and wrapped in more plastic? What's wrong with homebrand being in printed cardboard boxes or bags rather than clearly on display plastic and plastic trays it doesn't matter if it's donuts, pies, biscuits or Pringles. There's countless other examples of excessive packaging too, plenty of non-recyclable forms too eg soft packs for stationery, batteries, confectionery etc.
I agree. While there is rightfully a lot of emphasis on plastic shopping bags, straws and cutlery, there is far more plastic used in the stuff taken out of the supermarket in a recyclable shopping bag than in the plastic shopping bag it replaces. Bamboo toothbrushes are lauded while plastic packages in just about everything we consume is ignored.
reality of matter is that government needs to just go hard on putting a "levy" on waste management for all products - the levy defined by an independent arm of government who looks that the cost of waste management of an object (including all packaging, transport costs etc) and then charges manufacturers a levy for it - manufacturer can get rebate when they show evidence that they have correctly taken the item back, or contributed to program that does it on their behalf.
I totally agree - so much overpackaging, and I get annoyed at shoppers who put items, such as banana's in a plastic bag. I take my mesh fruit bags, try to buy lose and - when I don't have enough bags - use the paper mushroom bags for items such as onions or mandarins
It only gets passed on to the consumers. Similar to the container surcharge in NSW. How stupid is that? Charge consumers an extra 10 cents for every bottle/can that they purchase but expect them to be returned to a designated recycler/machine in pristine condition so they can return it (or charge back the cost) to the supplier. I prefer to crush my cans/bottles so that they fit into my recycling bins not take up a whole boot load of space to return a few dozen items.
nope. that's how it should work. Consumers then choose to not purchase items because it's more expensive. sales of items falls, manufacturer modifies to fix cost issue by creating more recyclable product and less packaging.
@TSK - I still purchase bottles of wine etc so it doesn't modify behaviour as the recycling mobs don't want to handle them. If a can of drink suddenly became more expensive than a 2 litre bottle, then it might change behaviour. If you don't like to drink flat soft drinks, no change in behaviour. Alternatively you drink more to the benefit of the producer.
Talk about an industry ripe for disruption. This is an area that needs more focus from 'Start ups" I've helped thousands of people start their own businesses, and I've found that everyone who makes money has the same thing in common
Probably the dumbest question ever, and I've asked plenty, but why do supermarkets package the goods in this way? Anything to do with legislated health standards for consumers? As an aside, as far as I am aware there is only one company based in South Australia which is into recycling solar panels yet this could be a growing issue. There has to be niche industries which have yet to be fully explored in this country. We are seemingly so slow in grasping the potential for some reason.
There are companies around such as Siltech which are precious metal refineries that also specialise in recovery of precious metals from waste - Siltech can even recover silver from X-rays. Replas takes soft plastics gathered by REDcycle and recycles them into outdoor furniture.
It’s related to the consumer expectation that all fruit and veggies look perfect for sale - so they are shipped in ways to minimize bruising while being shipped and stored. However Aldi seems to be putting fewer types of fruit in plastic containers and having more large crates of apples. One problem with removing packaging is the people who poke/squeeze fruit to test for ripeness ..leaving the ones they tested behind...as waste,
It's not only fruit and veggies. Many other products have plastic packaging. In some cases there are alternatives, in other cases there may not be. I'm not sure if metal is a worse alternative. Many cheeses are packaged with excess plastic, especially some of the speciality cheeses or sliced cheese. Meat comes in plastic trays. Many cereals are packed in plastic bags just inside the cardboard box. Light bulbs and batteries often come in very thick plastic covering. Some frozen products (and biscuits) come in plastic trays inside plastic wrap. I'm sure every shopping bag has examples of overpackaging. While bulk stores provide products without packaging, the ones I've seen tend to be expensive.
