Sorting Queensland recycling facts from fiction – your common questions answered
Issued: 4 Sep 6 mins read

Does recycling even achieve anything?

Some folks believe that all recycling just ends up in landfill – but this is a harmful piece of misinformation. It’s in everyone’s best interest to recycle, from individuals right up to huge corporations. Not only does the recycling industry in Australia rely on our participation to operate, but it’s almost always more expensive for collection companies to send household recyclables to landfill. 

Here’s a simple breakdown of what happens when you put items in your yellow-lid bin:

Collection: Your yellow lid bin is collected and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).

Sorting: At the MRF, recyclables are sorted into categories like paper, plastic, and glass using a mix of manual and high-tech methods.

Pre-sorting: Before machines take over, workers remove non-recyclable items (called contaminants).

Automated sorting: Machines take the sorting process further, with magnets picking up steel and optical scanners identifying paper and different plastics.

Baling: Each material stream is turned into a bale that is suitable for sale on the open commodity market for processing. Purity depends on the type of technology at the MRF.

Processing: Each material is processed differently; plastics can be turned into flakes for use in different products (including back into plastic bottles), paper is pulped and dried and turned into new paper, and glass is crushed and melted and turned into new glass bottles and jars.

Innovation: All the hard work pays off! Recycled materials are used to make new products, contributing to a circular economy and reducing waste sent to landfills.

Recycling wins in Queensland: fast facts

According to the most recent Recycling and Waste in Queensland report, we have some impressive recycling stats to brag about for 2022-23!

• 80% of materials recovered were recycled in Queensland.
• Collectively, local governments sent 303,996 tonnes of paper and packaging for recovery.
• Organic processors converted 1.93 million tonnes of organic material into products such as soil conditioners, manufactured soil, potting mixes and mulches.
• 16,700 tonnes of waste were diverted from landfill through the operation of ‘tip shops’.

Is tossing food scraps on the ground littering?

Tossing your stray fruit scraps on the ground may seem harmless, but it can have an unexpectedly sinister effect on our environment. Our natural ecosystems and waterways are vulnerable to disruption and pollution caused by seemingly harmless organic matter.

Leftover food can disrupt the diet of our native animals and seriously harm their health. Discarded scraps can also encourage vulnerable critters to get dangerously close to high-risk areas like roads, putting their lives on the line. 

As far as pollution goes, the amount of time it takes for food scraps to break down might surprise you. Depending on the conditions, an apple core can take around two months to decompose, while a banana peel can hang around for up to two years. If you want to put your leftovers to good use, learn about composting – it’s a great way to reduce and reuse your organic waste.

Curious about other items you shouldn’t be tossing aside? Read more about littering in Queensland.

Why can’t I bag my recycling? Surely paper bags are okay?

Keeping your recycling completely loose may seem like a picky request, but it’s a vital step to help smooth out the sorting process. Even chucking your paper grocery bags into another paper bag is a no-no – and we’ll explain why.

Bagging up your recycling can cause havoc at Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF). The operators at these spots rely on clear visibility to identify what’s recyclable, not recyclable, or dangerous – and it can be mighty tricky to make that distinction when a bag is in the way.

As for bag-ception? Bags within bags can act very differently in the MRF and may not be recognised as paper. If the bags aren’t seen as 2D, they may end up being sorted into the wrong recyclable stream. That said, your paper shopping bags can still go in the yellow lid bin individually – just remember to keep them loose.

What is contamination? Is putting a couple of wrong items in my yellow lid bin really a big deal?

Not all recyclables can go in your yellow lid bin, depending on what is accepted in your local area.  A rogue unrecyclable in the mix causes contamination – so how much of a hassle does this cause?

A yellow lid bin that contains contaminants causes serious drama at the waste processing level – and too much contamination could mean it ends up in landfill. The most common contaminants include organic biodegradable items like cups, plates, and paper towels, plus kitchen glassware and soft plastics.

Getting your bins mixed up isn’t just a case of contamination – popping recyclable items in your general waste bin means they end up in landfill instead of getting a valuable second life.

Many people fall victim to “wishcycling”, where you toss things in the recycling bin hoping they belong there. While this optimism is well-intentioned, it’s also a big contributor to contamination. Unsure? Err on the side of caution and opt for general waste, or better yet, check the Recycle Mate app for answers. You can plug in your location alongside any object you’re unsure about, and the website will let you know which bin to use. Easy!

Every little bit makes a difference

When it comes to recycling, collective action is powerful – and once you learn the ropes, effective recycling becomes second nature! By learning how to recycle properly, you have the power to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill – not to mention the recycling industry creates jobs and contributes to the Queensland economy.

The Let’s Get it Sorted web pages have more information on what materials you can recycle, how to make sorting simple, and handy habits to adopt that will make you a recycling superstar. If you’re ever unsure about recycling in your area, reach out to your council for advice.