NATIONAL RECYCLING WEEK 2025

10-15 NOVEMBER

 

It’s National Recycling Week (10–16 November)! The week is organised every year by Planet Ark, inspiring Australians to reduce waste, reuse what we can and recycle right.

At CR, we create jobs that care for people and planet – and helping communities manage their waste more sustainably is a big part of that work. So, National Recycling Week is a great initiative for us to get behind as a team.

Here’s what’s happening across the organisation this week, along with some quick tips to recycle right and other ways you can get involved!

 
 

Resource Recovery Australia

Enter the Reviva Reuse Competition

Get creative and show off your reuse, repair or repurpose skills! RRA’s annual Reviva Reuse Competition is open now for National Recycling Week.

To enter, simply:

  • Share a photo of your reuse, repair or repurpose project

  • Tell us how it gives new life to old materials

Entries close Saturday 15 November – it’s open to everyone, so why not join in and inspire friends, family and others across CR?

ENTER THE REVIVA REUSE COMPETITION

Check out some of the winners from our 2024 competition.

 
 

For recycling specifics in your local area, visit https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/

Green Yakka

How to Recycle These 5 Tricky Items

Did you know that when the wrong items end up in recycling bins, they can contaminate whole loads – meaning everything could end up in landfill instead? Knowing what goes where helps keep recycling effective and sustainable.

The Green Yakka Zero Waste team have shared five quick tips to help you recycle common tricky items right at home and at work:

  1. Pizza boxes – Recycle the clean parts only. Tear off greasy sections and put them in your regular bin.

  2. Soft plastics – Never put these in your recycling bin. Check your council website for local drop-off or reuse programs.

  3. Coffee cups – Most can’t be recycled! Plastic lids sometimes can – check for the recycling symbol.

  4. Foil – Can be recycled, but prep it right. Scrunch clean foil into a ball the size of your fist before putting it in the recycling bin.

  5. Glassware & ceramics – Not the same as bottles and jars. These belong in general waste or reuse programs.

Small changes like these add up — especially across hundreds of CR staff!

 
 

Soft Landing

How Do We Recycle Mattresses?

Every mattress we collect at Soft Landing is taken apart by hand.

Our manual process creates jobs for people who need them most and recovers up to 70% of materials (steel, foam and timber) for reuse and recycling – a much higher rate than other recyclers who rely on machines.

That means fewer resources wasted and more social and environmental benefits for communities!

Help us spread the word about responsible mattress recycling by sharing this video with others!

Watch our Newcastle team in action.

 

Other Ways to Get Involved

There are plenty of easy ways to take part this week (and all year round):

  1. Host a mini swap or reuse challenge with your team

  2. Explore your local Reviva Reuse Shop, op shop or tip shop

  3. Visit the Recycling Near You Reuse Hub for ideas

Every time you reduce, reuse or recycle right you’re making a difference and helping us care for people and planet.

Together, we’re part of the solution.

 

Happy National Recycling Week!

 

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Australia and recognise the continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
We pay our respects to Elders past and present. Together we walk towards healing.