At the September SHGC meeting, Sara gave us a great insight into what we can and can't recycle into the supermarket plastics' bin. It's certainly not as straight forward as it seems. Here is a useful list from a web site you might like to read! It's a recycling program used by Coles and Woolworths but I expect it would apply to other supermarkets like Stirling Foodland. Basically - if it can be scrunched into a ball it's a YES but see the list of NOs below including biodegradable or compostable plastic as described by Sara.

https://www.redcycle.net.au/what-to-redcycle/

the comprehensive list of what to REDcycle:

YES PLEASE!

• Biscuit packets (outer wrapper only)

• Bread bags (without the tie)

• Bubble wrap (large sheets cut into A3 size pieces)

• Cat and dog food pouches (as clean and dry as possible)

• Cellophane from bunches of flowers (cut into A3 size pieces)

• Cereal box liners

• Chip and cracker packets (silver lined)

• Chocolate and snack bar wrappers

• Cling film - GLAD, COLES HOME brand and WOOLWORTHS Essentials Home brand ONLY

• Confectionery bags

• Document sleeves (remove the white reinforcement strip along the holes)

• Dry pet food bags

• Fresh produce bags

• Frozen food bags

• Green bags (Polypropylene Bags)

• Ice cream wrappers

• Large sheets of plastic that furniture comes wrapped in (cut into A3 size pieces)

• Netting produce bags (any metal clips removed)

• Newspaper and magazine wrap

• Pasta bags

• Pet food bags (chaff/horse/chicken) - both the plastic and woven polypropylene types (but not woven nylon). Cut into A3 size pieces and shake free of as much product as possible

• Plastic Australia Post satchels

• Plastic carrier bags from all stores

• Plastic film wrap from grocery items such as nappies and toilet paper

• Plastic sachets

• Potting mix and compost bags - both the plastic and woven polypropylene types (cut into A3 size pieces and free of as much product as possible)

• Rice bags - both plastic and the woven type (if large, cut into A3 size pieces)

• Snap lock bags / zip lock bags

• Squeeze pouches with lid on (e.g. yogurt/baby food)

• Wine/water bladders - clear plastic ones only

• Please make sure your plastic is dry and as empty as possible.

NO THANKS!

• Plastic bottles

• Plastic containers

• Any rigid plastic such as meat trays, biscuit trays or strawberry punnets

• Adhesive tape

• Balloons (of any kind)

• Bathroom/shower loofahs

• Biodegradable/degradable/compostable plastics

• Blister packs, tablets and capsule packaging

• Blow up pool, pool toys or beds - plastic or PVC

• Bread bag tags

• Christmas tinsel and Christmas trees

• Cling film - with the EXCEPTION OF GLAD, COLES HOME brand and WOOLWORTHS Essentials Home brand

• Coffee bags

• Cooler bags

• Disposable food handling gloves of any variety

• Drinking straws

• Film negatives and x-rays

• Fishing line

• Foam or polystyrene of any kind (including soft flexible foam)

• Foil / Alfoil of any kind

• Food waste

• Glass

• Laminated materials and overhead transparencies

• Medical waste materials

• Nylon - woven, soft or fishing line

• Paper and cardboard

• Paper post packs

• Plastic/clear vinyl packaging from sheets and doonas etc

• Plastic packaging that has contained meat

• Plastic strapping used for securing boxes and pallets

• Polyester of any kind

• Powdered milk packets, made of foil

• PVC

• Rope of any variety

• Rubber, rubber gloves, latex

• Solar pool covers

• Tarpaulins

• Tin cans

• VHS Tape

• Vinyl - any type of vinyl packaging

• Wet plastic materials as mould is a problem for us

• Wine/water bladders - foil based

• Wrapping paper and cardboard, ribbons or bows

Please note that the REDcycle Program has been developed for post consumer household plastic.