Keep it Loose – Don’t Bag Your Waste
With Waste Action Maleny
Many people put their rubbish in plastic garbage bags before throwing it into the recycle or general waste bin. While convenient, this is not advised because plastic bags:
- Contaminate recycling streams
- Get caught in and damage waste processing equipment
- Hide contents, making sorting difficult during processing
- Contribute to microplastic and methane pollution
Even bin liners labelled ‘compostable’ or ‘biodegradable’ cause problems. They cannot be recycled, don’t break down into organic matter properly, and produce methane in landfill, so should be avoided.
The most responsible and sustainable way to dispose of waste is to:
- Reduce your overall waste — buy less
- Sort and dispose of waste properly
- Keep waste loose — don’t use plastic bags or bin liners
- Wrap food scraps in newspaper or compost them at home
If you worry about bins being dirty or smelly without bags, clean them regularly with soapy water or a spray of white vinegar and water after emptying. You can also freeze meat scraps until bin day to prevent flies and odours.