Watch waste contamination

Toowoomba city residents are reminded to follow simple tips to avoid contaminating waste.

Plastic bags should be placed in the general waste bin. They can be placed in retail outlet collection bins, but should not be placed in greenwaste or yellow recycling bins.

Hazardous items found in greenwaste and recycling bins disrupt services, pose a safety risk and devalue recycled material.

All non-hazardous waste can be placed in the general waste bin which is collected weekly. The recycling or yellow bin is collected fortnightly on the same day as the general waste bin.

The following items can go in the recycling bin:

• Newspaper and paper, cardboard, magazines, junk mail
• glass bottle and jars (no lids)
• steel and aluminium cans, empty aerosols
• juice and milk cartons
• plastic containers

(no foil, plastic wrapping, ribbons and strapping). A recent audit revealed plastic bags were among the worst items for contaminating waste.

Non-recyclable matter or waste interferes with the sorting of recyclable material.

Similarly, only organic matter should be placed in optional greenwaste bins.