Southern Queensland Landscapes has risen to the challenge to increase it’s recycling practises this National Recycling Week having achieved the businesses’ greatest recycling and repurposing record during the past year. 

November 8-14 will herald National Recycling Week with calls going out to councils, businesses and the general public to boost their recycling practises.

SQ Landscapes Senior Project Officer Sid Matthews said why put something in landfill if you can repurpose it and recycle it?

“Recycling is an important part of being environmentally friendly and Southern Queensland Landscapes recycles everything we feasibly can,” Sid Matthews said. 

RECYCLING ALUMINUM SAVES 95%

OF THE ENERGY REQUIRED TO CREATE IT

“We're taking the lead from our First Peoples committing to use everything we possibly can before turning to recycling or repurposing and finally as a last resort throwing it out; all with the aim of leaving the world in a better condition than we found it,” Mr Matthews said. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia recorded a 10% increase in landfill waste during the 2018/19 - despite a 20% increase in waste infrastructure investment; and the consumer demand for global recycled plastic products continues to rise. 

But SQ Landscapes is determined to help flip the trend, committing to a green footprint; recycling and repurposing anything from printer cartridges to old concrete stairs. 

“The Toowoomba office's old concrete stairs were recycled and repurposed - because as stairs they needed to be replaced; but as concrete slabs, they were structurally sound and had nothing wrong with them!” Sid Matthews said.



45% OF WASTE IS RECYCLED IN QLD,

STATES LIKE ACT AND SA AT 80%

“With Queensland among the bottom three states for recycling in Australia, there’s lots of room for improvement. Households contribute the weight of over 350 thousand humpback whales (12.4 million tonnes) of waste per year in Australia,” Mr Matthews said. 

“We’ve all got to be conscious of our environmental impacts and recycle as much as we can,” he said. 

National Recycling Week urges householders and businesses all over Australia to step up to the challenge and ‘Recycle Your Way’. 

HOW YOU CAN ADOPT GREENER RECYCLING PRACTISES?

• Got white-good waste? Take it to your local dump to be recycled. 
• Start collecting containers for change.
• Recycle organic waste in compost. 
• Buy in bulk and use refillable products.
• Remember your reusable bags, coffee cups and water bottles when you leave the house. 
• Sell, give away or buy pre-loved items on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace.
• "Buy it back" - look for the sign that an item for purchase has been made from recyclable materials. 
• Find ways to recycle printer cartridges, mobile phones, batteries, computers and other electrical appliances at recyclingnearyou.com.au. 

LEARN MORE:

https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/education/25-things-to-reuse 

https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/nationalrecyclingweek/research/