Put a smile on your dial and go green this National Recycling Week

9 November 2015

For immediate release

Put a smile on your dial and go green this National Recycling Week

Colouring in books for grown-ups, yoga, walking the dog – but what about recycling?

New research has discovered that sorting the household rubbish is good for the soul.

Planet Ark’s All Sorted: Answering the Big Recycling Questions report highlighted international research that found a significant link between recycling and life satisfaction.

The study of almost 24,000 individuals across 27 countries uncovered that recycling gives us positive emotions by doing the “right thing”.

“Recycling begins with all of us and National Recycling Week from 9 to 15 November is a great opportunity to start recycling or to look at the way you recycle,” Council’s Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent said.

“Not only is it good for the planet, it’s good for your wellbeing.”

“You’ll also be turning trash into treasure – recycling creates 9.2 jobs for every 2.8 jobs in landfill and is an $11 billion industry for Australia.”

Miss Kent said with so many benefits, it’s important to make sure recycling is sorted correctly and free of any contaminates.

“A survey of 115 Councils found the number one recycling mistake was soft plastics such as shopping bags, bread bags and cling film being put in kerbside recycling bins,” she said.

“These types of plastics can’t be recycled through the normal kerbside service as the can clog conveyor belts during processing.

“It’s also important not to put your recycling in a plastic bag as your bagful of recycling will end up in landfill.

“A quarter of the Councils also reported that excess food residue prevented some items being recycled. For example, pizza boxes are recyclable, but pizza isn’t.”

If you have any questions about what you can and can’t recycle, contact Miss Kent on 1300 292 442.

Paving the Recycled Way workshop

Put the right foot forward when it comes to recycling at the Paving the Recycled Way Workshop on Saturday 14 November.

You’ll learn how to build garden paths and edging using old materials people may have lying around the house, like broken concrete and tiles.

The workshop will be held from 9.30am to 11am at the Demonstration Gardens at Shaw Street.

National Recycling Week: 9 to 15 November

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Contact Josh Lang 6926 9190/0437 385 892 or media@wagga.nsw.gov.au or follow us on Twitter - @WaggaCouncil