Since its inception, ULSC has encountered problems with the recycling service, mainly contaminated or non-recyclable articles being placed in the recycle bin for collection.

Recycling bins that contain contaminated or nonrecyclable articles increase the cost of disposing of the waste, which in turn may lead to an increase in annual waste collection charges.

The extra charges occur when the facility in Canberra who receives the recycling discover contamination in the recycling and rejects the load.

When this happens the recycling company needs to reload and dispose of the entire load in Canberra’s local waste management centre, this incurs further charges for the council.

Recycling

Coun cil would like to remind residents of the items that cannot be placed in the recycling bin. Items that are not for disposal in the recycling bin include most plastic bags, paint tins, scrap metal and wire, disposable nappies, garden organics, food scraps and items that contain food scraps e.g. pizza boxes, bottles with lids still on, plastic straws and wrap.

There have also been occasions when residents have incorrectly placed plate glass, windows, mirrors, Pyrex, light globes, crockery and ceramics, and cigarette butts into Council bins meant for recycling.

All of the above items should be placed in the Council’s garbage bin. Oils, syringes and sharps have been incorrectly placed into recycling bins.

These items should be brought, in person, to the residents nearest waste management centre for disposal.

There are facilities at all ULSC waste management centres for recycling bigger items or larger quantities of recyclable material. There is no cost to dispose of sorted recyclables at any ULSC waste management centre.

Materials accepted at no cost include white, brown and green bottles and jars (remember no plate glass), ferrous and non-ferrous metals, paper, cardboard, plastic and motor oils.

By insuring that the domestic recycling collection service is used correctly, residents will help to reduce the volume of waste that is sent to landfill, which will maximise the landfill life span and help to minimise increases in the fees and charges Council has to charge to provide this valuable service.