Congratulations to Hobart residents who acknowledge that recycling is the cornerstone of sustainable development by substantially reducing their impact on the planet.
In June 2010, the Hobart City Council, in conjunction with Veolia Environmental Services and Southern Waste Strategy Authority conducted a random kerbside recycling audit of residents recycling bins.
This survey found there were very low levels of contamination in recycling bins. The random samples were drawn from bins in various suburbs across the Hobart municipal area, to determine the contamination rate of recycling material placed in mobile bins for collection.
The contamination rate for this sampling audit was very low at 4.3%, and residents are to be congratulated for their efforts in embracing recycling and contributing to the diversion of this material from landfill. Audit results from this survey of southern Tasmanian councils indicated contamination levels averaged around 10% and were as high as 27% in some areas.
Only two or three years ago the kerbside recycling contamination rate was around 22%. The latest audit results show a quite significant improvement in this area, by all residents in the southern region.
The major item of contamination during the audit was plastic bags, either placed individually within the bin, or containing other recyclable items, which would normally be acceptable items, if placed loosely in the bin.
To assist the Council to further reduce Hobart's contamination rate, residents are reminded that plastic bags should not be placed in their recycling bin.
Certain supermarkets accept their returned plastic 'singlet' style bags and consequently recycle them through Planet Ark, however the recyclers engaged by the Council are unable to handle this particular item for operational and occupational health and safety reasons. It is therefore important from the contamination aspect that plastic bags not recycled at supermarkets be placed in the green lidded waste mobile wheelie bin for collection.
Reducing the current contamination rate is of benefit to everyone.
The Council congratulates all residents on their recycling efforts to date, and with the elimination of plastic bags from the recycling bins, this will ensure that Hobart achieves even lower recycling contamination rates in future.