Jun 22, 2020
Exposing Plastic Recycling Myths with Tops Off Recycling
Do you know what plastic is recycled and what is not? In this episode we chat to Leisa Clark from Tops Off Recycling and are shocked to uncover some of the myths about what we thought was actually being recycled!
Leisa explains that 40% of all plastic used in packaging is HDPE (High-density polyethylene) plastic, which is a strong, resistant, long lasting, UV resistant, buoyant plastic. 40% of all plastic produced in the world is HDPE plastic and none of that type of plastic is currently being recycled in Australia. Leisa says that when she last looked at the statistics, only 9% of all plastics in Australia, are being recycled.
Australia does not recycle plastic bottle tops - so when you take your bottles to a Containers for Change depot to receive the 10c refund, all the lids are taken off and they are thrown into landfill.
All the hard plastic, such as yoghurt containers, plastic milk bottles, vitamin tablet containers, are all HDPE plastic, which is not getting recycled at all and e…