Thanks for tuning into our episode on waste and recycling! Today we're interviewing our friend and waste management expert/environmental educator, Andrew.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to your bin is the Waste hierarchy - that is, the best waste is the waste that isn't produced! The more we can avoid waste, the less demand there is for wasteful products and packaging, and the less waste will get produced. If you can't avoid it entirely, try to reduce it, then reuse it, then recycle it. If it is not recyclable, it might be able to be "recovered" or incinerated and turned into energy. Countries like Sweden actually import waste specifically for incineration. The final step for waste that cannot be avoided, reused, recycled or recovered is disposal; i.e., it will end up in landfill. Avoiding waste is always the preferred option:

Waste collection can vary between councils, so check out the website for the council in your area for specific information about their landfill, recycling, green waste and other services.

Sources and further reading:

•Waste hierarchy - https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/rubbish-tips-and-bins/recycling-and-reducing-waste/waste-hierarchy

•Waste Recovery -https://www.cewep.eu/what-is-waste-to-energy/

•Sweden importing waste for recovery - https://www.trtworld.com/europe/swedish-recycling-so-successful-it-is-importing-rubbish-24491

•Avoiding waste is always the preferred option - http://rethinkwaste.com.au/about/

•https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/rubbish-tips-and-bins

•Brisbane City Council website (including tips on waste reduction!) - https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/clean-and-green/rubbish-tips-and-bins

•Materials Recycling Facilities, or MRFs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CFE5tD1CCI

•What do the triangles mean? - https://polychem-usa.com/plastic-coding-system/

•Australasian Recycling Label - https://www.environment.gov.au/australasian-recycling-label

•Lids4Kids - check out local facebook groups like this one in South East Queensland for topical information on collection points and other initiatives - https://www.facebook.com/groups/466584883913904/Ooooby (Out Of Our Own Backyards) delivers boxes of fruits and vegetables, sourced from local farmers, to houses in Sydney