Unfortunately, a significant portion of this waste often ends up in incorrect bins, impacting recycling efforts.
Campaspe Shire Council environmental projects education officer Sheri Doyle stresses the importance of proper waste sorting during Christmas.
“Our best approach is to recycle as much as possible and utilise the green bin for all food scapes and garden waste,” she said.
“Ham bones and prawn tails, typically uncommon during the year, can all go into the green bin.”
In Campaspe, green bins accept all food scraps, including large bones and seafood waste.
This waste is processed at Biomix and transformed into soil-enhancing compost products.
When it comes to gift wrapping, Sheri warns against using glossy or plastic-coated materials.
“These items must go in the red bin as they can’t be recycled,” she said.
She encourages creative gift-wrapping solutions, such as using recyclable brown craft paper with festive ribbons or repurposing household items like tea towels.
Campaspe Shire Council offers various recycling options for larger items.
Expanded polystyrene, the large blocks that come with things like a new TV, can be recycled for free at the Echuca and Mt Scobie Resource Recovery Centres.
All eight centres accept cardboard and co-mingled recyclables for free, and the Echuca and Mt Scobie Resource Recovery Centres can accept some soft or flexible plastic, including shrink wrap, plastic wrappers, plastic bags and clingfilm.
Please ensure that all packaging is separated from cardboard to allow for proper recycling of each of these materials.
E-waste, which is anything with a cord or battery, including festive fairy lights, is accepted free of charge at all Resource Recovery Centres.
Sheri emphasises the importance of proper battery disposal.
“Batteries shouldn't go in any bin. They do cause fires in our waste trucks,” she said.
Both real and artificial trees can be taken to Resource Recovery Centres, though charges apply both for landfilling the artificial tree and mulching costs for the real tree.
If you are camping throughout the festive season, please take camping waste through to a nearby Recourse Recovery Centre for free disposal.
Additionally, the council will provide four skip bins for campers' waste at Torrumbarry Roadhouse, Echuca East Boat Ramp, Gunbower Recreation Reserve and Vic Park Recreation Reserve over the Christmas period.
The skip bins are solely for campers' waste and will be monitored.
If the bins are full please take the campers waste to the Resource Recovery Centres, campers waste will be accepted free of charge.
Campaspe Shire Council Resource Recovery Centres will be closed on Christmas Day but open as usual on all other days, including public holidays.
For more information on waste and recycling services, residents can visit the council's website, https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/Our-services/Waste-recycling
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