Exposing Plastic Recycling Myths with Tops Off Recycling

Gutsy Matters

Do you know what plastic is recycled and what is not? In this episode we chat to Leisa Clark from Tops Off Recycling and are shocked to uncover some of the myths about what we thought was actually being recycled!

Leisa explains that 40% of all plastic used in packaging is HDPE (High-density polyethylene) plastic, which is a strong, resistant, long lasting, UV resistant, buoyant plastic. 40% of all plastic produced in the world is HDPE plastic and none of that type of plastic is currently being recycled in Australia. Leisa says that when she last looked at the statistics, only 9% of all plastics in Australia, are being recycled.

Australia does not recycle plastic bottle tops - so when you take your bottles to a Containers for Change depot to receive the 10c refund, all the lids are taken off and they are thrown into landfill.

All the hard plastic, such as yoghurt containers, plastic milk bottles, vitamin tablet containers, are all HDPE plastic, which is not getting recycled at all and ends up in landfills….even though we put it in our recycling bins provided by councils!

Tops Off Recycling are looking at ways to recycle plastic bottle tops and turn it into recycled, quality 3D printing filament. Their goal is to have local- based recycle hubs and innovation centres across Queensland to recycle and repurposed plastic into 3D filament and other products.

Find out other interesting facts about plastic and recycling in this very interesting conversation.

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