New research has uncovered a common misconception among Australians about what happens to their items put out for recycling.
Thirty-one per cent of the country, or one in three Australians, believe most items in their recycling bins end up in landfill, which Planet Ark said was untrue.
Around 80 per cent of all items placed in household recycling bins are recycled, with 14 per cent not recycled due to contamination, meaning items placed in the wrong bin.
The remaining six per cent is not recycled due to breakage or process inefficiencies, according to Planet Ark’s research.
In September, Campaspe Shire Council director of sustainability Michael Sharp said there were 18,869 recycling bins used by residents in the shire.
The local population recycled correctly around 88 per cent of the time, although recycling bins had a 12 per cent contamination rate.
Kerbside bin audits last year revealed that, on average, waste bins contained about 26 per cent of eligible recyclables that went to landfill, Mr Sharp said.
Participants in Planet Ark’s research agreed Australians would be more motivated to recycle if they knew their household items were being processed correctly.
Misinformation around recycling going to landfill was attributed as a detractor from recycling efforts by Planet Ark, undermining confidence in the recycling system.
Planet Ark chief executive Rebecca Gilling said she was concerned about persistent myths and mistrust that hindered Australia’s challenges with waste.
“It’s vital that Australians know their efforts to recycle do make a difference,” Ms Gilling said.
“The vast majority of correctly recycled items do not go to landfill, and the system in place is effective at recovering valuable resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting down on the need for raw material extraction.”