An annual summer recycling bin Purpose: identify changes in household The most common non-recyclable items identifed: survey was carried out for the recycling and levels of contamination. residential kerbside recycling bins across district. What is contamination? Contamination is anything in your bin that is considered non-recyclable

Mixed material products Bottles with lids Plastic 3, 4, 6 & 7 Dirty recycling (e.g. soy milk cartons, potato chip (e.g. milk bottle, soft drink) (e.g. squeezable sauces, dips or (e.g. unrinsed containers, canisters or toy packaging) pasta packaging) tins or bottles) Why: Lids hold liquids in A total of Why: The different layers of materials in bottles and small lids jam Why: These are low value plastics Why: Recycling companies the packaging make it hard to separate. sorting machinery. harder to recycle into new products. require material to be clean. 283 recycling bins Surveyed kerbside recycling were audited in the survey. The amount of non-recyclables bins comprised of: found in the recycling bin was The sample size of 283 ensured an accurate higher compared to previous representation of the population with a 95% level of 33% Cardboard years and indicates an increasing trend. confidence and 6% margin of error. 27% Paper Removing non-recyclables is costly and takes time to remove. 18% Plastic 1, 2 & 5 Contaminated recycling is sent to the landfill. % of households What’s improved? % of households 6% Tin with soft plastics with coffee cups There has been a decrease in the amount of soft plastic and 51.9% 6.9% 3% Aluminium takeaway coffee cups found in 2018 2018 the kerbside recycling bins. 13% 31.4% 9.2% Non-recyclables 2019 2019 Residents are doing the right thing 9.2% by either avoiding these items or 4.6% placing them in the red landfill bin Common contaminants 2018-2020 2020 2020 2018 2019 2020 Oakura and

80 had the lowest rate of non- recyclables in their recycling 70 bins while Marfell and Fitzroy has the highest. Average Contamination Rate 2015-2020 60 50 Five suburbs Five suburbs with the 20 40 with the best worst recycling 30 recycling 15 20 1. Oakura 1. Marfell

10 10 2. Lepperton 2. Fitzroy Percentage of recycling bins surveyed of recycling Percentage 0 3. Highlands 3. Bell Block 5 Park East % of contamination Dirty Food Glass boxes plastic Tissue Plastic lids on 4. 4. 3, 4, 6, 7 0 products Dirty pizza Polystyrene Recyclables Bottles with 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Soft Plastics 5. Whalers

Coffee Cups Coffee 5. Gate Non recyclable Non recyclable Mixed material