PSF has 6704 reasons to celebrate National Recycling Week

The Australian Food and Grocery Council’s (AFGC’s) Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF) has extra reason to celebrate National Recycling Week, knowing that its projects throughout the country have increased recycling rates by 6704 tonnes.

The PSF projects have made it easier to ‘do the right thing’ away from home with waste and recycling bin systems introduced at more than 680 locations nationwide through voluntary partnerships between government and industry.

The Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin program is part of the rollout of a five-year, $100 million industry-funded plan - the National Bin Network - to reduce litter and increase recycling. The program has resulted in recycling systems being installed at 76% of Australia’s busiest airports, 47% of universities, 67% of large sports stadia and 44 individual entertainment venues, including Gold Coast theme parks, the Australian Institute of Sport and Sydney Opera House.

Partnerships with Westfield, Lend Lease, Colonial, Mirvac, AMP, QIC and GPT have introduced recycling facilities at major shopping centres, collecting more than 2100 tonnes of beverage containers each year.

23% of councils are also promoting the message, which is reinforced by 700 roadside signs and more than 4000 posters across the country.

“Putting recycling infrastructure in place at our shopping centres, airports, entertainment centres and sports stadia makes it easy for people to make the right choice to recycle when away from home,” said Chris Jeffreys, general manager of the PSF.

“Public places generate large volumes of waste, much of which can be recycled by customers if facilities are available, visible and easy to use.

“Already the bins installed have collected 6704 tonnes of packaging for recycling, which is equivalent to 356 million small drinks containers. That’s the same as if every Australian recycled 16 drinks containers when they are out and about.

“National Recycling Week gets more people to think about recycling and so I encourage everyone to get involved so that next year we are celebrating even greater recycling numbers.”