Albury recyclables aren’t going to landfill as a result of China’s new restrictions on importing recycled materials, according to the company collecting the yellow bins.
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There's definite markets for recycled products if it's clean and that's the real message
- Frank Sufferini
Cleanaway confirmed this week processing continued to occur at its Lavington site.
But head of corporate affairs and investor relations Frank Sufferini said the effects of the Chinese change of policy were global.
“It's a market that was taking a lot of that material and it no longer is so the value of recycling material has decreased and that makes it a bit more difficult,” he said.
Environment Protection Authority NSW said Australia sent 1.25 million tonnes of recycled material to China in 2016-17.
Mr Sufferini said putting items that couldn’t be recycled, like plastic bags or pizza boxes/containers with food still in them, into the yellow bin could increase the amount of residual material.
“You might have a street where you’ve got 100 residences and 90 of them do the right thing, but 10 might put in contaminated material and it can contaminate an entire load at times,” he said.
“In Albury’s case it’s quite good, it’s not a major issue.
“Recycling happens when you actually find an end market for that product.
“After the material’s been sorted effectively at the recycling centre, it then goes to companies that use that material.
“There’s definite markets for recycled products if it’s clean and that’s the real message.”
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said there had been no change of system in regards to the China policy and recycling would continue to be collected and processed as usual.
“We thank the community for its support of our recycling programs and urge everyone to continue their efforts to reduce waste going to landfill,” he said.
