Ag Artwear Competition 2024

We’re excited to confirm the return of the most stylish competition – the Ag Artwear Competition, as part of Agfest 2024! Entering the competition Entrants must create wearable ‘works of art’ including accessories (hat, handbag, earrings, footwear etc.) created from materials and items of an agricultural nature found on a farm. The age categories are: […]

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Steps to Set Up a Recycling Hub in your Community or Business

The following information gives steps to starting your own Recycling Hub. It’s based on the knowledge and experience of the University of Tasmania’s Recycling Hubs (they call them Recycling Walls) and shared with their kind permission. Read their Recycling Wall Good Sort profile for inspiration. Step 1: About Recycling Hubs Recycling Hubs collect items which […]

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How Product Stewardship Schemes are helping Tasmanian businesses reduce landfill costs

Most of us do a great job utilising kerbside recycling – both at home and in our businesses. But what about those tricky items that seem, by all accounts, unrecyclable? Too often, these products (and the precious materials they contain) end up in landfill, which is bad news for our economy and the health of […]

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How to dispose of Rapid Antigen Tests and facemasks

To be COVID safe, used Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and facemasks should be disposed of in the garbage bin.RATs and facemasks cannot be recycled in kerbside bins. Mask straps should be snipped before placing the whole item in the garbage, to reduce the risk to wildlife if the mask accidentally becomes litter. Used RATs are […]

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Understanding Plastic Identification Codes (PICs)

Plastic products often feature a Plastics Identification Code (PIC) triangle also known as a Resin Identification Code. It is a classification system created by plastic manufacturers to identify the type of plastic used to make a product. The codes are usually found stamped or printed on the bottom of products and show a number from […]

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Investment boost for waste reduction awareness initiatives

Tasmania’s three Regional Waste Management Groups, backed by 27 Local Councils, welcome the Tasmanian Government’s support of Rethink Waste Tasmania.  The $95,000 investment will increase the number and reach of waste awareness and education activities that are delivered across the state; aimed at reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and maximising resource recovery. […]

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Which bin for long-life cartons?

Can a long-life carton go in the kerbside recycling bin? Long-life liquid cartons (also known as UHT cartons, aseptic drink boxes, or Tetra Paks) can no longer be recycled anywhere in Tasmania and so, unfortunately, must be disposed in the garbage. Long-life cartons are made from a combination of cardboard with thin layers of plastic […]

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What is e-waste?

What is e-waste? E-waste (short for electronic-waste) is electrical equipment that no longer works and can’t be repaired. It Includes computers, printers, mobile phones, TVs, monitors and electrical accessories like keyboards, power supplies and cables. Some e-waste products are recycled under Product Stewardship Schemes, this means that when you buy these products a portion of […]

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Which type of polystyrene can be recycled in Northern Tasmania?

Look at the size of the foam ‘bubbles’ in the polystyrene. If they are big and soft, that is likely to be expanded polystyrene and that CAN be recycled in Northern Tasmania. If no ‘bubbles’ can be seen in the polystyrene or they are very small and the surface is very smooth, they cannot be […]

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Free Bin Posters – put the right things in the right bins

Separating waste at the source by putting the right things in the right bins is one of the easiest ways to stop re-usable and recyclable materials from ending up in landfill. If you have mixed recycling, separate paper and cardboard recycling, food and garden organics collection, a compost bin or general waste collection then help […]

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Travis the Garbologist gets a visit from Veolia

After reading about northern Tasmanian student, Travis, and his passion for recycling in the Rethink Waste Tasmania Good Sorts, Veolia reached out to him with a little surprise. The Veolia team arranged for three staff and a couple of recycling collection trucks to visit Travis and deliver a goody-bag of treats. Travis was invited to […]

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Free Hazardous Waste Recycling and Disposal in the Cradle Coast

Have you been to your council’s waste transfer station or resource recovery centre lately? It’s not a tip. It’s THE place to take unwanted items for recycling.   Every council in the Cradle Coast Waste Management Group has at least one; so you don’t have to travel far (Circular Head, Waratah-Wynyard, Burnie, Central Coast, Devonport, Latrobe […]

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National Recycling Week an Opportunity to Close the Loop

Tasmanians are getting better at recycling with more than 242,000 tonnes of materials collected for re-use in the last year and a steadily declining rate of contamination. According to Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group member, Michael Attard the positive trend has been helped by the arrival of new recycling services and a change in attitude. […]

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Dangerous goods in kerbside recycling bins

Dangerous goods in kerbside recycling bins pose a real risk to staff at Tasmania’s Materials Recovery Facilities who are sorting bin contents by hand. Examples of dangerous goods include needles and other sharps, ammunition and pieces of wire. Help keep recycling sorting staff safe by keeping needles and other sharps out of kerbside recycling. If […]

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Kerbside Recycling Bin Assessments in the Cradle Coast region

Location: Circular Head, Waratah-Wynyard, Burnie City, Central Coast, Devonport City, Latrobe and Kentish Council areas. Kerbside Recycling Bin Assessments are coordinated by the Cradle Coast Waste Management Group on behalf of its member Councils and take place a couple of times a year in North West Tasmania. The assessments help tell the Group whether landfill […]

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Household battery recycling drop-off points

Household dry-cell batteries including alkaline, lithium, watch batteries and cordless drill batteries can be recycled in Tasmania, just not through your kerbside recycling bin. When mixed in your kerbside bin, they cannot be easily separated and can contaminate the other recyclables.  They also pose a fire risk within the bin and the collection trucks. Instead, […]

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What is the China Green Sword policy and what does it mean for recycling?

The Green Sword policy is a ruling introduced by China to reduce the volume and contamination levels of recyclable materials it imports for reprocessing. Twenty-four types of recyclables have been banned (ceasing of import licenses) across both industrial and household categories. Those most relevant to Tasmanian recycling services are household plastics and waste paper recycling. […]

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