How recycling has changed since 1995 with the help of skip bins in Adelaide

Back in 1995, recycling was a new concept and skip bins companies in Adelaide did not have environmentally friendly practices in place. Only 52.7 per cent of newspapers were recycled in Australia, compared to 74.5 per cent today, which equates to almost two million newspapers a year. These days, 600 million more aluminium cans are being recycled than in 1995, with 2.3 billion aluminium cans recycled every year. Amazingly, each can recycled will save enough energy to power a TV for three hours.

Even in Australian homes, people are being more proactive about recycling. Now 42 per cent of Australians either compost or have worm farms to recycle their food and green waste. Recycled toilet paper is even a popular item in households, with 8,000 tonnes of office paper waste turned into SAFE toilets paper. 

While recycling figures are rising, attention still needs to be paid to some areas. Shockingly, only 11 per cent of office paper is recycled in Australia, with 9 out of 10 sheets being thrown away. Additionally, the number of people who recycle their mobile phone needs to rise, as well as recycling of printer cartridges. With 18 million printer cartridges thrown into landfill every year, more needs to be done to recycle them.

Australian’s also needed to know items that cannot be recycled. While plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, cartons, steel cans, aluminium drink cans, aluminium foil and pie trays can all be recycled, there are many items that cannot be. Items to avoid putting in your recycling bin include plastic bags, nappies, ceramics, cookware, crockery, oven-proof glass, light bulbs, broken drinking glasses, syringes, liquids and hazardous waste.

Overall, Australia has come a long way when it comes to recycling. Over the years since 1995, they have organised exceptional events that had a strong focus on recycling including the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 2004 Australian Open and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. There has also been aimpressive reduction in the amount of plastics bags being used at supermarket checkouts. In 2002, 5.95 billion plastic bags were used at the supermarket, while in 2005 the number reduced to 4.44 billion. In 2007, the amount was reduced again down to 3.93 billion as a result of the introduction of the ‘green bag’.

If you are considering hiring skip bins in Adelaide, be sure to call Green Bins, who is committed to recycling as much of your waste as possible. Call them today on (08) 8280 3318.