Buy Recycled call

Australians are being urged to ‘buy recycled’ during National Recycling week, November 8-14.

Sussan Ley, Minister for the Environment said it is time for consumers and industry to help ‘close the loop’ by looking for goods that contain recycled content.

“Times are changing and looking for recycled content in the products and packaging we buy will soon be as routine as our use of the recycling bin today,” Ley said.

“We are seeing recycled materials turned into mayonnaise jars, coffee capsules, credit cards and drink bottles, roads made of recycled tyres and recycling bins made of recycled material.

“Recycling week is a chance to reward those companies that are stepping up to understand the range of sustainable options that are emerging in the market.

“Through the Recycling Modernisation Fund, our recycling legislation and through the Morrison Government’s world leading bans on the export of waste plastic, glass, paper and tyres we are leading an unprecedented transformation of recycling in Australia.”

Trevor Evans, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction said that RMF was established with a $190 million Commonwealth investment to be matched by states and territories, and industry.

“With many more projects still to announce, business has already invested $383 million,” Evans said. “Not only are we seeing investment in new plants, we are seeing a step up to new technologies that will create a wider range of recycling options for new products. That means the waste previously exported or sent to landfill can be used across a wider range of products and packaging.

“Already companies are making decisions that give consumers the opportunity to choose sustainable options and National Recycling Week is a good opportunity to recognise those efforts.”

Recent company initiatives include Goodman Fielder making Praise Mayonnaise and Aioli bottles and jars from 100 per cent recycled plastic and BOQ rolling out Australia’s first debit card made from recycled plastic. Over the next three years, BOQ expects to save 3500 kilograms of PVC from landfill.

Nestlé Starbucks has introduced coffee capsules made using 80 per cent recycled aluminium across the entire retail range, Tip Top is phasing out the plastic bread bag clips for cardboard versions made from 100 per cent recycled cardboard and are recyclable, and Coca-Cola and Asahi are committing to purchase about 13,000 tonnes of recycled plastic resin from Australia to turn into PET bottles for soft drinks and water.

As part of National Recycling Week the government has released new videos on products made from recycled content including boardwalks, office furniture and asphalt and new product stewardship schemes.