We're all in need of a bit of recovery. And that can mean environmental recovery, resource recovery, economic recovery and even, emotional recovery! Managing our resources well is an important part of the fight against climate change. And for a future beyond the bin, everyone needs to play their part. The good news is that the journey has well and truly begun.

The following 6 steps highlight ways you can personally transition to a future beyond the bin.

72%

of Australians are concerned about waste.

The most effective way to eliminate waste is to reduce your consumption. This can also mean saving yourself money. Taking time to review your purchasing habits and taking stock of how much 'stuff' you have can be the first step to better resource use.

Reducing your waste is not necessarily about sacrifice, it's also about changing behaviour, your mindset, and discovering the hidden benefits of those new behaviours.

6

TONNES of textiles are sent to landfill in Australia every 10 minutes.

Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to landfill from households. In addition, it is one of the biggest contributors to contamination of kerbside recycling bins. However, food waste is also one of the things we can easily avoid.

Food in sealed landfills rot and produce methane as these environments are anaerobic, meaning there is no oxygen. When landfill sites do not capture methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide is released. Food scraps and liquid also don't belong in recycling as it can ruin your good efforts and prevent recyclables from being recycled.

$1,026

is the cost of food waste for the average household each year - enough for a return flight to Fiji.

About half of all packaging in Australia is recovered. We're doing ok with paper and cardboard but less so when it comes to plastic. Many Australians are pushing back on excess packaging and looking to a trusted recycling label to help inform their purchases.

Packaging that is not reusable, recyclable or compostable is simply a waste of all the energy, resources and water that go into its production.

63%

of paper and cardboard packaging is recovered in Australia compared to just 16% of plastic packaging.

Environmental benefits, along with saving money and convenience, are the key drivers of the sharing economy, also known as collaborative consumption. Borrow, swap and share platforms can help save resources when items are repeatedly used by many people, rather than a few people infrequently using many items.

$15

BILLION is how much Australia's sharing economy is worth per year.

Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia. Constant upgrading of devices and low rates of recycling means landfills are filling up with valuable resources and hazardous materials, or worse, leaching into our waterways and potentially causing problems for wildlife and human health.

Sending e-waste to landfill has already banned in Victoria and is a priority for the Australian Government under the Product Stewardship Act. E-waste is not recyclable in your kerbside bin. This includes virtually any appliance with a plug or battery such as mobile phones, TVs and computers.

21.7

KG is the amount of e-waste each Australian disposes of per year, one of the highest in the world.

Companies can have a positive impact on the environment by making small changes in how they produce products, what resources they use or how they dispose of materials. From large corporations to small businesses, companies are innovating to take responsibility for their products and waste.

The age of product stewardship is here. MobileMuster and Cartridges 4 Planet Ark have been helping brands take responsibility for the end of life of their products in Australia for many years. The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation is encouraging brands to make packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable. And, the Australian Government has committed funding to support more product stewardship programs into the future.

100%

recycled plastic is what all of Coca-Cola Australia's plastic bottles under 1L are made from.