PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
Water, soft drink and sport drink bottles, condiment bottles, peanut butter, vegemite and jam jars.
YES – As these items are a rigid/hard plastic, they can be recycled through your recycling bin.
HDPE (High density polyethylene)
Milk and juice bottles, detergent, shampoo and conditioner bottles, water pipes and grocery bags.
MIXED – Some rigid/hard plastic items can be recycled through your recycling bin. However lightweight soft plastic grocery bags cannot be recycled in the recycling bin. They get caught up in the machinery at the materials recycling facility (MRF) and mix with other materials such as paper. You can recycle your plastic bags and other soft plastics through the REDcycle bins found at participating stores.
PVC (Polyvinyl chlorine)
Flexible or rigid plastic used for plumbing pipes, clear cordial and juice bottles, bubble wrap, children’s toys and play mats, tablecloths, and vinyl flooring.
MIXED – The rigid/hard plastic items can be recycled through your recycling bin. Soft plastics, mats and flooring cannot be recycled in the recycling bin. Soft plastic such as bubble wrap and plastic packaging can be recycled in the REDcycle bins found at participating Coles and Woolworths stores. Cling film cannot be recycled through the REDcycle system.
LDPE (Low density polyethylene)
Bread bags, dry cleaning bags, newspaper bags, produce bags, and bin liner bags as well as a lining in milk cartons and takeaway beverage cups.
NO – Lightweight soft plastic bags cannot be recycled in the yellow lidded recycling bin. They get caught up in the machinery at the materials recycling facility (MRF) and mix with other materials such as paper. You can recycle your plastic bags and many soft plastics through the REDcycle bins found at participating stores
PP (Polypropylene)
Ice cream containers and lids, yoghurt, margarine and butter containers, juice bottles, bottle caps, plant pots and plastic takeaway containers.
YES – Rigid hard plastic containers can be recycled.
PS (Polystyrene)
Foam cups and takeaway containers, moulded packaging, packing peanuts, meat trays, yoghurt, margarine and butter containers.
MIXED – expanded polystyrene—foam cups, takeaway containers and packaging cannot be recycled in your recycling bin. Polystyrene breaks up into many small pieces and contaminates recyclable materials. Rigid, hard forms such as yoghurt and margarine containers can be recycled in your recycling bin.
Other (Bisphenol and other)
Nylon, safety and prescription glasses, sunglasses, baby milk bottles, headlight lenses, CDs and DVDs, water cooler bottles.
MIXED – As the number 7 includes a wide range of plastic types and items, the recyclability of these will depend on the individual item.