The recycling mistakes Queenslanders are making

New research shows a whopping 88 per cent of Australians are putting common household items such as al foil and coffee cups in the wrong bin. SEE THE LIST OF DO’S AND DON’TS

Queenslanders are confident when it comes to recycling household waste but new research shows 88 per cent of Australians put common household items in the wrong bin.

A new study by Nestlé shows 36 per cent of Australians believe coffee cups can go in recycling bins, but the stark reality is that most are not recyclable.

Figures revealed 68 per cent of surveyed residents did not know that aluminium foil could go into household recycling bins if pieces were scrunched together to the size of a golf ball and 39 per cent did not flatten cardboard when recycling it.

Brisbane City Council’s recycling guide showed that there were more than 40 items that could be put in the household recycling bin, including cereal boxes, biscuit and sushi trays, junk mail and gift wrapping.

Aluminium cans baled up for recycling.

The guide also outlined that drinking glasses, garden waste, clothes and soft plastics could not be recycled in the yellow lid bins.

But soft plastics can be recycled at local supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.

Shopping bags, fruit and vegetable wrappers, bread bags, cereal box liners and rice and pasta packets can all be put in the supermarket’s REDcycle bins to create benches, bollards and other items for the stores.

The Brisbane City Council has outlined several tips for recycling, including that containers did not need to be rinsed and recyclables should not be kept in plastic bags.

There are 22 recycle centres across Brisbane where bottles and cans can be redeemed for money, including West End, Salisbury, Tingalpa, Geebung and Kedron.