The Ultimate Recycling List

The Ultimate Recycling List - The Urban Ecolife

What You Can Recycle

Recycling Plastics

All hard plastic containers

Rinsed juice bottles, milk bottles, yoghurt containers

Clean plastic meat and vegetable trays

Plant pots (remove the dirt)

Recycling Glass

Jam jars

Beer bottles

Wine bottles

Recycling Paper

Telephone directories

Newspapers

Magazines

Office Paper

Letters

Envelopes (including window envelopes)

Recycling Cardboard

Flattened boxes

Cereal and food boxes (not contaminated with food or oil & plastic removed)

Rinsed milk, juice, custard and stock cartons

Recycling Aluminum

Empty steel cans

Soft drink, beer cans (washed out quickly & crushed)

Clean aluminum foil and pie trays

  .

What You Can’t Recycle

Non-Recyclables Plastics

Plastic Bags

Courier Mail bags

Bin liners

Cling Film

Bottle caps

Plastic lids

Packaging Made of Foiled, Glossy, Glazed, Waxed and Lacquer Coating

Non-Recyclables Glass

Window panes

Mirrors

Light bulbs

Non-Recyclables Dangerous/Flammable Products

Styrofoam

Aerosol cans

Hazardous Waste (household chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze and other liquid coolants)

Tires/Rubber

Non-Recyclables Paper Materials

Wet paper

Heavily dyed paper

Non-Recyclables Contaminated by Food/Grease

Pizza Boxes

Take out food containers

Paper towels/napkins

Non-Recyclables Organic Matter

Garden waste and clippings

Kitchen food scraps

Non-Recyclables Household Items

Clothing and lining

Disposable Nappies

Cosmetic jars & containers

Medical materials and syringes

Batteries

Paint cans

Ceramics/pottery

 


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Posted on by Emily Uebergang Posted in EcoLiving

About Emily Uebergang

Urban hippie by day, wandering gypsy by night. Emily is all about sustainable living and writes like she's out to try and save the world or something. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Google+

  • georgia

    Hi Emily,

    It would be a good idea to specify in what areas you are able to recycle these materials, and in what format. For example, I’m in Australia too, and much of what you’ve said isn’t recyclable is either dated or incorrect. Flexible plastics are able to be recycled if you drop them off at a range of designated locations; bottle caps and plastic lids typically are able to be recycled; and aerosol cans are able to be recycled provided the plastic lids and caps are separated first. Take out containers can be recycled provided they’re given a reasonable wash first. Pizza boxes can be recycled if they’re not overly greasy.

    Other items people typically think are recyclable cause a lot of issues in the recycling facilities – for example, shredded paper is very hard to manage. On the other hand, I find it works very well when added to my compost bin, as do paper napkins and paper towels.

    However, different councils recycle different materials and this changes over time. People should check their local collection services.

  • / EmilyU

    Thank you so much for commenting Georgia! I did compile this list a while ago and certainly agree, a lot of it is outdated. I would love to do a more regional based list and will add that to my projects. Where in Australia are you? You are right though, people should definitely be checking with their local councils first and foremost.

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