Frequently Asked Questions

Can we recycle this?

Most likely more than 50% of your waste is recyclable through specialised streams. With Recycle Wise you can have access to 10 streams with one account, with the possibility to add more with individualised contracts. 

Can my business access your service?

We currently service Melbourne and the eastern suburbs. If you are outside this area still give us a ping, as we may be able to work something out. Or we will use this information to help expand the service in the future. 

What items do you collect?

All items we collect must be empty, clean and dry to avoid contamination and mould.

And not contaminated by biological substances making it clinical waste. 

PVC Poly-Vinyl Chloride           - IV bags, tubing, masks (stripped of other materials)

freeflex® IV bags

Polystyrene

Clear Soft Plastics /LDPE           - scrunchable plastic, no colour, no printing, no labels 

Blister packs (empty)

Small plastic bits (eg. needle caps, plastic twist stoppers from IV bags/lines or off lancets) - NO sharps

Syringe barrels and plungers (rubber stopper removed, NO sharps)

Saline ampoules

Oral care items 

Batteries

 

How do I know if I can recycle my consumables?

You can book a free waste assessment to see what you can rescue and how you could set up a resource capture zone in your workplace. Each business is different in their needs, time and space available so our service customises the capture zone setup.

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Will my business really make a difference by recycling?

We are now producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, most of it going to landfill or spilling out into our environment.

Only 9% of the world's plastic resources are rescued and successfully recycled.

We are releasing between 1.7 and 3.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of virgin/mined fossil fuels plastic.

Recycling plastic to be remanufactured can save us up to 80% of those carbon emissions.

Every time we choose to recycle, we use less energy and send less resources to landfills. 

We make the choice to lower greenhouse gasses for everyone.

 

My waste truck is already going to the tip.

By adding an extra service won’t I be adding to the carbon problem?

Not at all. 

Recycle Wise offset our carbon emissions with Greenfleet. Each client is helping to plant protected native forests, removing carbon from the atmosphere and tackling reducing the climate crisis.  “These forests also improve soil and water quality, and restore habitat for koalas and other native and endangered wildlife.” - Greenfleet https://www.greenfleet.com.au/our-impact/our-forests 

Read about the local forest out at Kinglake: https://www.greenfleet.com.au/our-forests/planting-sites/watsons-creek-biolink

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Aren’t coffee cups recyclable? (we no longer accept cups but feel this is valuable info)

Unfortunately no, they cannot go into co-mingle due to the layer of plastic (even if it’s bio-plastic) on the inside of the cup which makes it leak proof. This needs to be separated off by specialised machinery so the cardboard can be recycled. Yes, this also includes your milkshake, soft drink and sundae cups from your favourite fast food establishments (sorry 😔).

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Can't coffee cups go into FOGO bins? (we no longer accept cups but feel this is valuable info)

NO. Single use cups with plastic lining (most) cannot go in Food Organics and Garden organics. 

Compostable cups, plates, knives and forks are a maybe. 🤔
You will need to check with your council as each one varies on what they will pick out of the FOGO collection and fling back into general waste.
SIGH. 🙄Yup we hear you. But remember the mantra - Waste is the problem, Recycling is just the workaround trying to clean up after it.

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Do you accept biohazard/biological/medical waste for recycling?

No. We can only recycle empty, clean and dry items. Items which have come into contact with any biological contaminants must be disposed of as per your own policies.

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Do you accept sharps?

No. These must still be safely disposed of in your sharps collection units, as per your own policies.