As more people sit up and pay attention to the environment, there have been major pushes globally to increase recycling and invest in green. Unfortunately, the soft plastic recycling company that Australia has relied on folded, and it seemed the only option available was to toss those soft plastics in with generic household waste. But, what is the real situation? What can you and can’t you do?
What is Soft Plastic?
You will find soft plastic in cosmetics, food packaging, and synthetic fabrics to name a few. Soft plastic is flexible and malleable. It is the type of plastic that your ice cream lollies come wrapped in and that your pasta is packaged in.
While the main recycling company collapsed, other recycling companies have stepped up in a bid to bridge the gap. Some local councils are providing curbside pickups of soft plastics. But, if that isn’t available in your area, you can use a company that offers rubbish removal in Sydney. They can uplift your soft plastics, and any other rubbish or items you need to offload and recycle them as appropriate.
How is Soft Plastic Used in Everyday Life?
Soft plastics can take centuries to decompose. While plastic bags have mostly been banned across the country, soft plastics still exist in everyday life. If you can scrunch it, it is soft plastic, from bubble wrap and toilet roll packaging to produce bags, pet food bags, and biscuit wrappers.
The average Australian produces almost 60 kg of single-use plastic waste annually. That is more than any other country. In addition to the collapse of the main soft plastics recycling company, it can be difficult to recycle some soft plastics due to food contamination.
The collapse was precipitated by a fire that halted production and resulted in a stockpile of waste. Prior to this, the recycling company would collect soft plastics from local supermarkets and sort and store them before distributing them to various manufacturing companies so they could be reused to manufacture plastic fences and make road surfaces.
Is Soft Plastic Recyclable?
Soft plastic is the bulk of the plastic pollution in landfills and waterways. It is vital that everything that can be recycled is done so properly. Many people have been putting soft plastics in their standard home recycling bins. It would be more suitable to place soft plastics in your household waste instead. The recycling machines cannot process soft plastics, which means they can disrupt the recycling program and block the machines. Recycling properly is necessary for safety as well.
What Can Happen if Soft Plastic Isn’t Disposed of Correctly?
Soft plastics are so prevalent, it can be difficult to avoid them. While soft plastics are recyclable, you would do well to reduce your use by purchasing certain food items in bulk, using reusable grocery bags, avoiding single-use items, and choosing durable containers for food storage. For the soft plastics you do create, they can be recycled if they are correctly sorted.
The purpose of recycling is to repurpose materials that can be reused, and more importantly, divert them from landfills. It also ensures they don’t end up in waterways to contaminate our water. There is also a serious risk to the local wildlife, with many sea creatures and birds getting caught up in soft plastics or trying to ingest them only to choke. This is true of soft plastic, as well as any other recyclable item that isn’t dealt with properly, from white goods to paper, plastic, glass, and beyond. If it can be recycled, it must be recycled because it is the only way to protect the planet and ensure our local environment remains clean.
Plastic is convenient, and it does have its uses. However, we have to transform the culture we have by throwing things away in a bid to reduce our waste. The Australian Government has set a goal for 2040 to end plastic pollution. The best way to do your part is to avoid soft plastics and single-use plastic wherever possible.
How Cheapest Load of Rubbish Can Help
You don’t need to move bulky items yourself or worry about renting a ute, Cheapest Load of Rubbish can handle it. As your local Sydney rubbish removal company, we can visit your home or office, uplift your rubbish or recycling and dispose of it properly.
If you need help shifting rubbish or making recycling simple, you can get in touch with Cheapest Load of Rubbish. We tackle white goods removal, deceased estate clearances, garden waste removal, construction rubbish removal, industrial waste removal, and much more. We will send a team out to visit your property and provide you with a quote on the spot, and if it is convenient, we can remove your load the same day. Otherwise, we are happy to schedule a more suitable rubbish removal date.
