PROMOTING RECYCLING

Opportunities for recycling vary from locality to locality.
Virtually anything is capable of being recycled.
Markets often dictate what is collected.
People will recycle if made easy for them by having access to a convenient network of public place recycling bins.

WHAT IS PUBLIC PLACE Public place recycling centres can also be known as community dropoff centres , and operate as a bin or bins placed at strategic locations ,usually in urban areas such as shopping centres , service stations, hotels or sports clubs. Glass, Metal and Plastic food & beverage containers are the most commonly collected items. Green Waste, clothing , paper ,vehicle batteries and bric a brac can often be collected in this manner, although not all sites are suitable for all items.

WHAT IS KERBSIDE RECYCLING Materials are left out in crates or wheelie bins supplied by the local government authority. Financial incentives are often given to recycle by structuring different rates for garbage than recyclables.

WHAT IS TIPFACE OR TIPGATE RECYCLING Can incorporate a much wider selection of recyclables ,particularly if incorporated into a tip scavenging operation. Methods of operation can be similar to public place with large bins regularly cleared by a recycling company or by direct sale to members of the public of all manner of household goods through a tipshop. Disadvantages of the tip location is that it is usually difficult to acess for people with no transport ,and is some distance away from the point of sale of their consumer products.

STARTING A CENTRE

Clean Up Launceston as the author of this topic, hopes to establish 1 or more public place recycling depots in Launceston , Tasmania. As Launceston is an area with few recycling opportunities. The Recycling Companies operate from Launceston for the benefit of business, but generally do not offer a service for the public. Elsewhere in Tasmania or other States of Australia good facilities for the public to recycle are in place and working well. When starting a centre potential operators need to consider zoning regulations and the effect on the amenity of the neighbourhood . Possible noise pollution Possible offensive odours Possible visual pollution Traffic access, for both your recyclers and your cartage contractors. Sometimes a local recycling processor of a particular commodity (glass, metal or plastic) may be able to provide receptacles and signage for the operation. Check if the recycling companies will pay for the product, or whether they will charge YOU to take away the material. Do some soul searching on your motives, are you in it for the money - or for the greater good? Many public place networks fail because of expectations that they will achieve a high monetary return. While it is important not to get into debt it need not be imperative to turn a fast buck, the operation can be run on a cost recovery basis.

FUNDING THE CENTRE Funds could be located through the federal government's Natural Heritage Trust, Philanthropic Trusts & Foundations, Private Sponsorships, User fees, or from users taking ownership of the project and forming a cooperative venture. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS By providing an opportunity to recycle a recycling and green ethos is developed in the community which will lead to other environmental issues being tackled, which can only be good for our planet and wellbeing. There will be a reduction in greenhouse gas production as it takes less energy to recycle common food and beverage containers than it takes to mine new materials or produce new containers. There will be less litter, as thought will be given on how to properly dispose of waste material. There will be more landfill space, reducing the need for new sites to be located.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION & MANAGEMENT OF CONTAMINATION HOW CAN THE RECYCLABLES BE CONTAMINATED Contamination can occur when different grades or colours are mixed .White, Green or Brown glass are usually the only glass collected, other colours are not accepted by recycling processors .If a small amount of the wrong colour glass gets in a batch the whole batch is affected and likely to be dumped. Similarly plastic grades go up to 7,but normally 1,2 & 3 are the only codes accepted for recycling. The code which is printed on the container in an universally recognized recycling triangle is an industry mark denoting recyclability OR RECYCLED CONTENT, and is not meant to be a consumer guide, although this is often the case.

Consumers can easily reduce the level of contamination at the depot by : Removing lids . Often bottle and jar caps are made from a different material. Screw tops from soft drink bottles are usually aluminium, Crown Seals from beer bottles are steel, most of the caps on glass food jars are steel. A magnet will soon pick out the steel material. The plastic lids on food jars or softdrink bottles are usually non recyclable. The metal lids are only able to be recycled if placed in the aluminium or steel bins. The caps on the soft drink bottles cannot be recycled,. Observing the rules of the particular public place facility and not leaving items for recycling if these items are not the materials able to be collected by the recycling processors, as these items will end up as waste, adding to the cost of the operation and could result in closure of the facility. Washing Containers ,particularly take care with milk bottles, because if they go sour, not only are they offensive to the people handling the product, but may not be able to be recycled, especially if there is a furry fungal growth inside the milk or yoghurt container. Aluminium and Steel must not be mixed, aluminium is worth more than steel, so if steel is mixed with aluminium the consignment is sold at steel rates, which is the absolute minimum currently. Be careful that aerosol cans have plastic caps and nozzles removed. Paint tins are recyclable, but only dry containers with lids removed. check with the operator of the public place recycling depot re toxic material such as, pesticides etc as these may require special handling. It may be better to seek advice from Councils or Agriculture Departments, most states now have "DRUMMUSTER" for this material

GETTING YOUR PROJECT UP In Launceston it is urgent to provide maximum opportunity to recycle common household containers. Clean Up Launceston seeks your input on how to achieve it's aims. Various approaches could be tried as a way of achieving an efficient an convenient network of public place recycling. (1) the confrontationist approach using graphic demonstration of wasted resources. (2) The consultationist method, - working with State, Federal & Local governments this method needs to be 2 pronged at the elected representative level, while at the same time, working with Parliamentary Officers and Council Staff. (3) The Recycling and Packaging Industry should also be kept informed of your campaign as it proceeds, because they could become opponents to your cause if they feel what you are planning threatens the viability of their operation. (4) Clean Up Launceston as an active campaigner for public place recycling certainly does not have all the answers and wishes that ANGELFIRE visitors will contribute to this topic with their tips on getting community leaders on side. FURTHER INFORMATION: CLEAN UP LAUNCESTON

Email: cleanup2000@elaunceston.com