Mayor’s Message - Friday 10 May 2024

The City of Ballarat is very committed to getting the contamination rate of material in our recycling bins down to zero, which will reduce how much waste is going to landfill.

About 25 per cent of our municipality’s recycling material is contaminated. The Victorian average sits at about 17 per cent. But more recently, our contamination has been as high as 45 per cent.

So in partnership with Sustainability Victoria we are proud to launch the initiative Small Acts, Big Impact campaign to help raise awareness about what should be going in your yellow lid bins.

It is important to keep items loose in the recycling bin, which helps more of the mixed recycling get turned into new products.

Most contamination is caused by plastic bags, which is why it is important to remember to not place your recyclables in plastic bags in your yellow bin. Also don’t forget that coffee cups, tissues and paper towel, glass and shredded paper also often contaminate our recycling.

Recyclable products are precious materials – that can be used again and again if they are recycled correctly.

Correctly recycled items can be turned into new products such as park benches, egg cartons and carboard boxes.

Small acts make a big impact. To recycle right:

• Give your containers a quick rinse to remove any excess food or liquid
• Put them in your recycling bin loose without the lids
• You can recycle aluminium and steel cans, clean paper and cardboard, plastic containers from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry without the lids
• Plastic recycling numbers 1, 2 and 5 only can be accepted in your recycling bin. All other types must be placed in general waste.

More than 6,140 tonnes of household recyclables were collected by our recycling collection vehicles in 2023 – let’s ensure this can all be reused and repurposed.

For more information on what you can recycle, visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/what-can-i-recycle

- Mayor Cr Des Hudson