Experts say “recycling success” in Australia can only be achieved through nationwide bin standardisation as one state prepares to roll out a new four-stream waste and recycling system.
Nearly 80 councils and Alpine Resorts in Victoria will soon have four separate bins for general rubbish, mixed recycling, glass recycling, food organics and garden organics.
In a recent survey of 1000 Australians, 89 per cent of participants said they believe recycling is important and 74 per cent feel their own recycling practices were either good or very good.
But in Victoria, the rate of recycling is just 45 per cent.
RMIT Senior Research Fellow Bhavna Middha and RMIT Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor Ralph Horne said such low rates of recycling mean more than half of all recyclable materials end up in other waste streams such as landfill.
On top of this, Dr Middha and Professor Horne revealed waste systems are often contaminated when materials are dumped in the incorrect bins.
“Our waste streams are very often contaminated. If there are meat scraps in the recycling bin, or polystyrene in the food waste bin, the entire truckload may have no recycling or composting value,” they wrote in The Conversation
The two researchers said there is much to like about Victoria’s plan to implement the four-stream waste system, as standardised bin colours across the state will help people recognise the different waste streams
But both Dr Middha and Professor Horne said standardisation across the entire country is the key to successful recycling, noting there is currently significant variation in processes and systems across states and territories.
Currently, South Australia and New South Wales have one bin for landfill, another for mixed recycling and a third for green waste.
With both states having a container scheme, Dr Middha and Professor Horne said neither state has plans for a glass bin.
Many councils in Queensland are now introducing a green and food waste bin but most households only have two bins.
While Queensland does not have a glass bin, it has made wine and spirit bottles available for its container scheme.
As both researchers push for standardisation across the country, they noted Victoria’s new plan will still not be consistent across the state as it appears apartment residents will miss out due to most apartments being privately serviced.
The pair also raised the issue of compostable kitchen caddie liners, which are often used to contain food scraps and avoid the “yuck factor”.
But under Victoria’s plan, compostable bin liners would be banned due to concerns of contamination and that they can’t actually decompose.
Dr Middha and Professor Horne said this will likely cause people to put waste in their general waste bin and offered a potential solution.
“Regulate compostable bin liners so only genuinely biodegradable liners can be sold. In the interim, replace these liners with paper,” they said.