It’s National Recycling Week and Planet Ark is encouraging all Australians to join the recycling revolution at their home, school or workplace.
Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week, which runs from 11th to 17th November, highlights the environmental benefits of re-use and recycling programs, while making participation enjoyable and easy through a number of community events and programs.
A new Recycling Revolution[i] report, commissioned by Planet Ark ahead of National Recycling Week, illustrates that recycling has begun a revolution in Australia and there are now options to recycle a growing variety of items.
For example, the recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) is growing three times faster than any other type of waste in the country, driven by Australians’ addiction to technology.
In 2011-12, an estimated 29 million televisions and computers across Australia reached their end-of-life, with only around 10% of these recycled, and this figure is growing. Yet a whopping 95-98% of the materials in computers and televisions, including plastics, metals and glass, can be fully recycled for future use.
The disposal of cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions is a particular issue, with the progressive closure of the analogue signal across Australia.
Last year marked a major revolution in the recycling of e-waste in Australia, with the introduction of the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, an industry-funded recycling scheme. Now, manufacturers that make and/or import televisions and computers are required to pay for the recycling of these products through the delivery of recycling drop-off points around Australia, yet many Australians are still unaware that they can recycle their e-waste for free.
“There’s a recycling revolution going on right around you and there are many actions you can take to be part of it,” said Janet Sparrow, Recycling Programs Manager at Planet Ark.
Other areas of focus that have spurred recycling revolutions recently include household packaging, soft plastics and plastic bags, batteries, printer cartridges and workplace waste.
Residents can find local recycling options on the Planet Ark’s RecyclingNearYou.com.au website – a service which provides reuse, recycling and safe disposal information for a wide range of different materials.
Visit RecyclingWeek.PlanetArk.org website or call the National Recycling Hotline on 1300 733 712 for further information about any of Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week initiatives.
National Recycling Week is kindly supported by Associate Sponsors Australian Packaging Covenant, ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’ and Century Yuasa and Category Sponsors Mobile Muster and TechCollect.
[i] Recycling Revolution – Planet Ark October 2013
About Planet Ark and National Recycling Week:
Planet Ark Environmental Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit environmental organisation that was founded in 1992. We create simple, powerful and positive actions that help people, governments and businesses reduce their impact on the environment. Our vision is to create a future where people live in balance with nature.
Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week highlights the environmental benefits of re-use and recycling programs, while making participation enjoyable and easy through community events and programs.
Events and initiatives throughout National Recycling Week include the Schools Recycle Right Challenge, The Big Aussie Swap, the Recycle Right Quiz and the Friday File Fling. Community members are urged to host their own events or join one held by their local council or community group.