Most Canberrans throw away about 2 tonnes of rubbish every year. That’s about the weight of a rhino!
Click the links below to discover more!
Everything we throw away has to go somewhere!
How often do you think about what happens to your rubbish once you throw it in the bin?
Globally, most things that people throw away end up in landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts.. LandfillsA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. are places where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts.
LandfillsA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. can be very harmful to the environment and dangerous to people’s health if they aren’t managed properly.
- LandfillsA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. release methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gasA gas in the atmosphere (such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) that absorbs and emits energy, warming the Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the main cause of climate change. that contributes to climateThe usual weather that happens in an area over a long time, usually many years. Climate change is when this usual weather changes. change.
- When it rains, toxic chemicals from the rubbish can move through the ground and pollute rivers and lakes.
- Air pollutionHarmful substances that can damage the environment. Water pollutants include chemicals, fertilisers, bacteria, viruses, animal or human waste, and too many nutrients. released from landfillsA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. can cause breathing problems for people who live close by.
We need to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts.. The main ways we can do this are by disposing of waste in more environmentally friendly ways (like recycling and composting) and by creating less waste to begin with.
From trash to treasure
We can give some types of rubbish new life through recycling. Recycling is a way to turn old materials into new products. For example, old glass bottles can be melted down and then remade into new bottles or other glass products. This reduces the amount of waste going to landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts., as well as reducing the amount of new glass that needs to be created.
Not everything can be recycled. In the ACT, we can recycle:
- Glass bottles and jars
- Paper and cardboard
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Aluminium and steel cans
The Recyclopaedia is a great tool you can use to look up specific items and find out if they can be recycled or not.
Can I go in the recycling bin?
Search the Recyclopaedia to find out if you can recycle the items below in the ACT. To check your answers, click on each card to flip it.
Answer: Yes!
Aluminium cans can be put in the recycling bin in the ACT. You can also exchange empty cans for a refund with the Container Deposit Scheme!
Read more here.
Answer: No!
Batteries can’t go in the recycling bin in the ACT – batteries can cause fires. However, there are other ways you can recycle them! Special programs like B-cycle will recycle your batteries for you.
Read more here.
Answer: Yes!
Plastic and glass bottles can go in the recycling bin in the ACT. You can also exchange empty bottles for a refund with the Container Deposit Scheme!
Read more here.
Answer: No!
Takeaway cups can’t go in the recycling bin in the ACT. If you’re ordering a takeaway drink, try bringing your own reusable cup instead!
Read more here.
Answer: No!
Clothes can’t go in the recycling bin, but there are other ways you can give clothes a new life. You can donate them to charity, give them away on Buy NothingOnline community groups where neighbours share things they don’t need anymore with each other., or swap them with friends.
Read more here.
Answer: Yes!
Glass jars can be recycled. Instead of putting them in the recycling bin, you could also think about reusing jars for craft projects, or to make jam. Jars can also be donated to some op shops.
Read more here.
4 rules to recycle right
- No soft plastics (like plastic bags)
- Empty items before putting them in the recycling bin
- Take the lids off
- Don’t put anything in the recycling bin that’s smaller than a credit card
If you’re ever unsure, check the Recyclopaedia!
We’re pretty good at recycling here in the ACT.
In most years, 70-80% of our waste is recycled or reused instead of going to landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts.. This is good news for our environment.
Although recycling is an important part of the solution, it can’t solve all of our waste problems. Even recycling can impact the environment because it requires energy to remake old materials into new products.
The best way to reduce waste is to buy less stuff in the first place!
Food for the Earth!
Did you know you can turn old banana peels, apple cores, and even fallen leaves into something useful for our planet?
It’s called composting, and it’s like a magic recipe for healthy soil. Composting is a fun way to help the Earth, reduce waste, and make your garden the best it can be.
So how does it work? Combining food scraps, leaves and other natural waste in a compost bin or pile helps them break down faster than they would on their own. Compost bins give tiny creatures like worms, bugs, bacteria and fungi a cozy home to do their job. These little helpers munch away, eventually turning the scraps into dark, rich soil. This soil is full of good nutrients that help plants grow stronger and healthier.
Did you know?
When food waste breaks down in landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. it releases methane, a powerful greenhouse gasA gas in the atmosphere (such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) that absorbs and emits energy, warming the Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the main cause of climate change. that contributes to climateThe usual weather that happens in an area over a long time, usually many years. Climate change is when this usual weather changes. change. If we compost our food instead of throwing it out, we can turn food scraps into something that helps the environment rather than harming it!
A compost pile in the garden. Source: Edward Howell
Getting the balance right
To make great compost, you need a mix of greens (like vegetable peels and grass clippings) and browns (like dry leaves and twigs). You can think of the colourful ‘greens’ as the main course for tiny bugs and worms, providing nutrients and moisture. The dry ‘browns’ keep the compost nice and airy, helping oxygen reach all parts of the pile.
It’s important to keep your compost a bit moist, like a wrung-out sponge, and give it a stir now and then to let extra air in.
Fresh ‘Greens’
Food scraps
Coffee grounds
Plant trimmings
Dry ‘Browns’
Dry leaves
Shredded paper
Twigs
Straw
In Canberra, a program has started to make it easier for everyone to compost their food scraps and garden waste. Houses in some parts of Canberra have been given new bins called FOGO bins, in addition to their normal recycling and landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. bins. FOGO stands for Food Organics and Garden Organics. One day everyone in Canberra will get one!
Changing how we think about waste
Disposing of things correctly is important, like recycling your cardboard or composting your food scraps. But even better is not having to dispose of something at all. This starts with changing what we buy in the first place.
Every time we buy something new, whether it’s clothes, a toy, or even a snack, it doesn’t just magically appear. People have to make it, which uses a lot of energy and resources (like water). It also usually creates pollutionHarmful substances that can damage the environment. Water pollutants include chemicals, fertilisers, bacteria, viruses, animal or human waste, and too many nutrients. and greenhouse gasA gas in the atmosphere (such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) that absorbs and emits energy, warming the Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the main cause of climate change. emissions. After we’re done using the item, it often ends up as waste.
So, every new thing we buy has a hidden story of energy and waste behind it!
Think about buying a new t-shirt. Trace your mouse along the path in the image below to discover all the steps it takes, from growing the cotton to delivering the t-shirt to your door.
Each of these steps uses the Earth’s resources and impacts the planet. So, another way we can reduce waste and save resources is to change our shopping habits. You can:
- Buy Less: Before you go to buy something new, think about other options. Could you borrow it from a friend, find it on your local Buy NothingOnline community groups where neighbours share things they don’t need anymore with each other. group, or buy it second-hand instead?
- Use Longer: Take care of your things so they last a long time. If something breaks, learn how to fix it instead of throwing it away.
- Recycle Last: After you’ve used something as much as you can, and if you can’t fix it, then it’s time to recycle it.
What do kids in Canberra have to say about Waste?
Click through these postcards to find out!
Want to know more? Check out our kid-friendly report about young people’s hopes for the environment called:
What can we ALL do to help reduce waste?
- Buy Less: Think about whether you really need something before you buy it. Maybe you can borrow it from a friend or find it second-hand.
- Use Longer: Take care of your things so they last a long time. If something breaks, maybe you can fix it instead of throwing it away. You could turn it into a fun project, like fixing a loose wheel on your skateboard or sewing up a tear in your backpack.
- Eco-Friendly Materials: When you do need to buy something, look for things that are made to last or are made from recycled materials.
- Shop Smart: Try to buy foods that aren’t wrapped in lots of packaging. Choose fruits and veggies that are loose and bring your own bags. Buying local is also a great way to cut down on waste!
- Sharing is Caring: Share books, games, and clothes with your friends. You can also join your local Buy NothingOnline community groups where neighbours share things they don’t need anymore with each other. group with your family! When you’re done with something, pass it on to someone else who might need it.
- Get Thrifty: Try buying second-hand clothes! It’s like treasure hunting, and you can find some cool, unique outfits at your nearest op shop.
- Start Your Own Compost: Start composting your food scraps at home or school. It’s like a science project where you watch scraps turn into food for plants!
- Become a Recycling Pro: Learn about what can be recycled in your home like plastics, cardboard, and paper. Check the Recyclopaedia if you’re not sure!
LET’S GET OUTSIDE
Go out and visit your local Repair Cafe to learn how to fix things and keep them out of landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. for longer! There are repair cafes in Bruce, Hawker, Ginninderry, Hughes, Tuggeranong and Watson.
Sewing materials at the Hawker Repair Cafe. Source: OCSE
Activities
WASTE SORTER
Can you sort these items into the correct place? You can choose to donate them, repair them, recycle them, compost them, or throw them in landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts..
Remember: We should only throw things in landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. if we don’t have any other options! Before you drag an item into the landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. bin, think hard about if there is anything else you could do with it first.
PLANET-FRIENDLY SHOPPING
Every new thing we buy has an impact on the environment. Think about all the hidden steps behind making a t-shirt! Instead of going straight to the mall whenever we feel like buying something new, it’s good to explore other options first. By doing this, we can reduce waste and help the planet.
Can you sort these steps into the correct order?
CARE TO REPAIR?
How many times have you thrown something away because it was damaged? Learning how to fix things is a great skill that helps us to use things for longer and keep them out of landfillA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts.. For this activity, learn how to sew a button back on when it falls off your clothes.
You will need:
- Needle
- Piece of thread (about as long as your arm)
- Spare piece of fabric
- Button
- Scissors
- Carefully thread the needle. Tie a knot at the end of the thread that is large enough to stop the thread coming through the fabric.
- Place your button on the fabric.
- Push the needle up through one of the holes in the button, starting from the back of the fabric. Pull the thread all the way through until the knot stops it.
- Push the needle down through the hole diagonally opposite the one your needle first went up through. Pull the thread firm but not too tight, so the button stays flat.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining holes in the button. The stitches you’ve sewn should make an ‘X’ shape.
- Keep sewing up and down through the button in the same pattern about 4-5 times to make sure the button is secure.
- Tie off the thread with a small knot at the back of the fabric (you might need an adult to help with this). Cut off the extra thread with scissors.
If you want to learn more about fixing things, visit a repair cafe in Canberra!
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WASTE?
Take the quiz below to test how much you’ve learnt about waste. Hint: the answers are on this website! Once you think you know the answer, flip the card to see if you are right.
Name three ways that landfillsA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. can harm the environment.
LandfillsA place where rubbish is buried in the ground in large amounts. release methane gas, pollute waterways, and create air pollutionHarmful substances that can damage the environment. Water pollutants include chemicals, fertilisers, bacteria, viruses, animal or human waste, and too many nutrients..
True or false: All lids can go in the recycling bin in the ACT.
False! Only lids that are larger than a credit card can go in the recycling bin. Visit the Recyclopaedia to learn more.
What do we call the process of turning food scraps into soil?
Composting
True or false: Waste is created when an item is made as well as when it’s thrown away.
True! Making new products uses resources and creates waste.
What does FOGO stand for?
Food Organics and Garden Organics
True or false: Buying things second-hand is better for the environment than buying things new.
True!
ZERO WASTE CHALLENGE BINGO
Download the bingo card below and cross off activities off as you complete them. You could challenge yourself to finish the whole card within a month!
