Toowoomba, let's talk rubbish - Toowoomba Chronicle

WE all know what it's like to deal with rubbish around Christmas time: Jamming crinkled wrapping paper into the recycling bin and cringing at the sound of glass bottles smashing together while emptying the trash.

During the previous Christmas holiday period the Toowoomba region produced about an extra 128 tonnes of recycling compared to an ordinary month of the year.

That is the equivalent of about three humpback whales or 19 adult male elephants.

Toowoomba Regional Council Water and Waste projects portfolio leader Councillor Nancy Sommerfield said they always had an increase in mixed paper, glass and plastics around Christmas and New Year.

"This is the main recyclable material that people use and dispose of at this time of the year due to wrapping, packaging and catering activities," she said.

While she said they could not predict figures for this holiday season, council had planned for an increase in recycling tonnages.

Despite an increase in tonnages during the holidays, Cr Sommerfield does not believe recycling was especially important during Christmas and New Year. She said it should be a priority all year round.

"We need to reduce the volume of waste going to landfill by rethinking before buying items," she said.

"Reduce what you buy, reuse what you can, recycle everything possible and use disposal as the last resort."

These holidays council's message is "think before you bin it".

The same goes for plastic bags.

Cr Sommerfield said plastic bags were among the items that most commonly contaminate recycling loads.

- APN NEWSDESK

Christmas recycling tips:

What you can and can't recycle depends on where you live and your local waste facility. Here are some tips from the Toowoomba council:

 1. Remember, foil wrapping and ribbons are not recyclable. Neither are plastic shopping bags. Theses should go in your general waste bin.

 2. Separate packaging from presents. Children's toys are often packaged using items that both can and can't be recycled. For example, from a Barbie packaging, cardboard can go into a recycling bin while wire twist ties and plastic wrap should go into regular waste.

 3. Wrap-up prawn heads and place in the freezer until collection day, and then place it in the general waste bin.

 4. Some plastic bottles and containers can be recycled. Check for the recycling logo - anything with a number one to seven on it, including cartons, can be recycled.

 5. Try and save Christmas wrapping paper for next year. Also use ribbon and wrapping for craft activities during the school holidays.

 6. Also think about food wastage. About three million tonnes of food - or about one fifth of all produce purchased for Christmas - is thrown away. Plan menus.