{"id":53787,"date":"2025-10-28T21:35:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T21:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/?p=53787"},"modified":"2025-10-28T21:35:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T21:35:45","slug":"common-recycling-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cos.net.au\/c\/cospedia\/common-recycling-mistakes","title":{"rendered":"9 Common Recycling Mistakes You Should Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

This year, National Recycling Week is taking place from November 10 – 16, and it\u2019s the perfect time to rethink the importance of recycling and how we manage our waste. While Australians are eager to recycle, many of us still make common recycling mistakes that can spoil the process, like tossing soft plastics into kerbside bins, leaving food scraps on recyclables, or assuming everything with a recycling symbol is good to go.<\/p>

According to Cleanaway 2023 Recycling Behaviours Report, over a third of Australians (38%) still find recycling confusing, a rise of (9%) since 2022. Nearly half (44%) said they struggle to find clear recycling instructions, highlighting the ongoing confusion around waste disposal. Even more concerning, four in five Australians (81%) misidentified a common recycling symbol, underscoring the need for clearer communication and better education to improve kerbside recycling practices.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

1. The Soft Plastics Problem<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

One of the biggest recycling mistakes in Australia is the inclusion of soft plastics<\/span> in kerbside recycling bins. Items like plastic bags, bread bags, frozen veggie pouches, chip packets, and cling wrap often find their way into the yellow bin. Unfortunately, these materials can\u2019t be processed by most kerbside recycling systems and end up causing machinery blockages at sorting facilities.<\/p>

According to Cleanaway, 2023 Recycling Behaviours Report, 32% of people are still incorrectly placing soft plastics into their recycling bins.<\/p>

The collapse of the REDcycle program in 2022, which previously collected soft plastics at major supermarkets, has further complicated matters. Without convenient recycling options for soft plastics, many consumers remain confused about what to do with them.\u00a0Most councils recommend disposing of these items in general waste (Red Bin) until new soft-plastic recycling programs are rolled out nationwide. Some community initiatives, councils, and specialised centres also accept soft plastics, check with your local council or participating supermarkets for approved drop-off points.\u00a0<\/span>Understanding the differences between plastic types and how they\u2019re processed in Australia can help reduce confusion and improve recycling habits overall.\u00a0<\/span>The plastics recycling<\/a> process is far more complex than you may think, so before you make your next purchase, you might want to make sure you\u2019re across some of the basics.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

2. Misunderstanding Recycling Symbols<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Australasian\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Another big source of confusion is the recycling symbol itself. Many Australians assume the familiar Mobius loop (the triangle of chasing arrows) means an item is fully recyclable. The Cleanaway Recycling Behaviours Report (2023) found that 82% of Australians believe the Mobius loop guarantees recyclability, leading to misplaced items like soft plastics, multilayer packaging, and composites in recycling bins.<\/p>

To clear things up, the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) was launched in 2018. It provides simple, consistent instructions on how to correctly dispose of each part of a product\u2019s packaging, whether it belongs in kerbside recycling, landfill, or a special drop-off point. But many people still don\u2019t recognise the ARL, showing that we\u2019ve got work to do when it comes to better recycling education and clearer packaging communication.<\/p>

Here\u2019s what the five ARL symbols mean:<\/p><\/div>