AT HOME
When we go to the local store and make a purchase we don’t think twice about accepting our goods in a plastic bag. More to the point we don’t think at all about where these bags end up.
Their use is brief but their lifespan endures for up to 1000 years! If plastic bags are to remain as part of our daily ritual, then more effort needs to be made to reuse, recycle and up-cycle.
Yes many supermarkets through the REDcycle Program, have drop off points for unwanted shopping bags but Did You Know that other types of plastic bags are also accepted? Soft plastics of all descriptions can be placed the the collection bins. This means ALL of the following items can be recycled…
- Cereal box liners
- Bread Bags
- frozen food bags
- Biscuit packets
- Bubble Wrap
- Confectionary Bags
- Courier satchels
- Rice and Pasta Bags
- Cling Wrap
- Toilet Paper Bags
- Newspaper Wrap
- Fresh Produce Bags
- Netting Bags
- Squeeze Pouches
“Over 200,000 plastic checkout bags are dumped in landfills every hour,” and “only % of Australia’s plastic bags are currently being recycled.”[1]
We need to drastically lift our game if we’re to going to make a real difference, but if we’re proactive, collect our plastic bags and return them to the store for recycling we CAN make a difference.
IN CONSTRUCTION & AT WORK
Businesses and construction companies now have a social and legal responsibility to dispose of plastic waste in the correct manner.
Where once demolition or office components were taken straight to landfill, we now see materials being sorted and separated into like substances and dropped off at transfer stations and recycling yards.
In New Delhi, “the government has made it mandatory for road developers to use waste plastic along with bituminous mixes to overcome the growing problem of disposal of plastic waste in India’s urban centres.”[2] Similar practices are being applied in Australia.
In Queensland, James Cook University teamed up with local business Fibercon “to develop a concrete product that is made from recycled plastic.” This product is “reducing the carbon footprint of construction at no additional cost.”
Its through innovations like these that we are seeing landfill levels slow, with aims to see levels reduce altogether.
UPCYCLE IN ACTION
As mentioned above, the REDcycle Program collects soft plastics from drop off points at supermarkets for recycling but do you have any idea of their reapplication?
These soft plastics are changing the construction industry. Not only are plastics being diverted from landfill but they are helping to reduce greenhouse emissions and save energy and water consumption.
Here are some products made from partial or fully recycled plastic and their benefits:
| PRODUCT | PRO |
| Green Pipe | 100% Recycled Plastic |
| Composite Decking | Termite Resistant, Low Maintenance, Water & UV Resistant |
| Bollards, Fencing, Furniture | Continually Recyclable, Non-Toxic, Washable, Handle Extreme Climates |
| Concrete | Toughens Concrete in Place of Steel Mesh, Saves CO2 Emissions |
DID YOU KNOW…
Cheapest Load of Rubbish Accepts All Types of Plastics
We’ll Remove:
- Plastic Bags and Wrappers
- Bottles and Containers
- PVC Pipes
- Chairs
- Polystyrene
- Vinyl
- Composite Lumbar
- Crates
We offer a specialised hand-loading rubbish removal service Sydney-wide, with our clients spanning from householders to businesses and construction companies.
Upfront quoting and same day services (where possible) are amongst the benefits that we can offer anyone looking for rubbish removal services for their unwanted junk.
Cheapest Load of Rubbish recycles up to 80% off all waste collected so you know that we have the environment in mind!
To find out more about our rubbish removal service and how you can safely remove plastic from your home, office or building site, call 9550 1181 today. Our friendly team are only too happy to discuss your needs.
- https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/bags
- https://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-26/news/68582088_1_plastic-waste-road-construction-road-developersx
- https://advance.qld.gov.au/innovation-movement/qld-innovators/construction/eco-friendly-concrete.aspx
