Learn more about your recyclables this National Recycling Week

This is the message council is sharing with residents this National Recycling Week.

Throughout the week, from November 8 to 12, council is offering tours of its Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for the public.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the tours were a great way to see what happens to our recyclables and why it’s important to recycle right.

“The MRF is a state-of-the-art facility that sorts our recyclables, including paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, steel cans, glass and recyclable plastics, and sends them to market to be turned into new products that we use every day.

“By making sure only recyclables go in your yellow-lidded bin, you can help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and ensure good quality recyclables are sent for manufacturing.

“Our recycling is certainly not rubbish,” he said.

During the tours, residents can view, via CCTV and an upstairs viewing room, how the facility separates all the recyclables that come in from around our region every day.

Our MRF processed 7727 tonnes of recyclables from Mackay region kerbside bins in the 2020-21 financial year. It also processed an additional 11,897 tonnes from commercial and other regional council collections.

The MRF tours will be held Monday to Friday from 1pm to 2pm at the MRF at 42 Crichtons Road, Paget. Community groups and seniors are encouraged to participate. To register your interest, visit council’s website.

Soft plastics webinar

As part of its commitment to reducing landfill and using recycled products, council is also joining with REDGroup during National Recycling Week to host a webinar on what happens to your soft plastics after you place them in the REDCycle bins at Coles and Woolworths.

With every person in Mackay using about 19 soft plastic items each day, this presentation will address the need for residents to start using the REDCycle bins more regularly.

The webinar will take place on Tuesday, November 9, from 10am to 10.30am. Click here to participate.