AUSTRALIA | On the eve of Global Recycling Day, Cairns Regional Council has launched a new waste education campaign to help residents understand what goes in each bin and reduce confusion that leads to more waste going to landfill.
Know Before You Throw is a simple way to reference the tools, information and practical tips that will help residents to quickly check where items belong before they bin them.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the community had already been waste-conscious, but noted that actions to recycle, reduce and reuse needed to be easier.
"We want to make waste and recycling easier to understand. We need an ongoing conversation and simple, routine actions that will help our community know what materials and packaging go to waste and what can be recycled," said Eden.
“Cairns residents care about keeping our city clean and protecting our natural environment. They told us they needed straightforward, practical guidance. Know Before You Throw is our answer to that."
Council's audits show that around 11 percent of recyclable material is still ending up in general waste bins. That means more than 5,000 tonnes of recycling is being thrown in the wrong bin and ending up in landfill each year. That equates to more than 330 garbage truck loads.
Community research found that residents consistently rated recycling as highly important, but their confidence in doing it correctly was low.
Nearly half admitted to placing items in the wrong bin simply because they weren't sure where they belonged.
“The barrier isn't a lack of care; it's uncertainty, and that's exactly what Know Before You Throw is designed to fix,” added Eden.
"Our residents already want to do the right thing, and we will be doing more to help them. When we know more about what goes in each bin, we waste less, and small actions at home can have a big impact across the region."
Know Before You Throw launches on Global Recycling Day, Wednesday the 18th of March and will roll out across Cairns over the coming months.
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