Published on 13 November 2023

‘Which bin?’ Take this National Recycling Week quiz

This National Recycling Week – 13 to 19 November – test your knowledge with this quiz on what items go in which kerbside bin.

The City of Onkaparinga’s A-Z Disposal Guide lets you know how you can dispose of items as diverse as birdbaths, portable gazebos, Christmas trees and golf clubs. It tells you if they go in the red landfill bin, the yellow recycling bin or the green organics bin – or if they should be disposed of elsewhere.

Take the quiz now and see the answers below – you might be surprised!

ONKAPARINGA ‘WHICH BIN?’ QUIZ

Take the quiz online

Or read each statement. Is it TRUE or FALSE? Check your answers below. What is your score out of 15?

1. Pizza boxes must go in the red landfill bin.
2. Envelopes with windows go in the yellow recycling bin.
3. Plastic lids must be removed from bottles before the bottles are recycled.
4. Soft plastics go in the red landfill bin.
5. Dog poo must not be placed in the green organics bin.
6. All metal can be placed in the yellow recycling bin.
7. Aerosol cans must go in the red landfill bin.
8. Plastic plates, bowls and cups must go to landfill.
9. Baking and greaseproof paper are not recyclable.
10. Blankets, sheets and towels go in the red landfill bin.
11. Used paper napkins and serviettes go in the green organics bin.
12. Household batteries can go in the yellow recycling bin.
13. Aluminium foils and trays can go in the yellow recycling bin.
14. Christmas decorations go into the red landfill bin.
15. Christmas trees can go in the yellow recycling bin.

ANSWERS

1. Pizza boxes must go in the red landfill bin.

   FALSE. Place clean boxes in the yellow recycling bin and dirty ones with food residue in the green organics bin.

2. Envelopes with windows go in the yellow recycling bin.

   TRUE. Place these in the yellow recycling bin. Padded envelopes go in the red landfill bin.

3. Plastic lids must be removed from bottles before the bottles are recycled.

   FALSE. Empty the bottle and put the lid back on, then place in the yellow recycling bin. Loose lids larger than 5cm in diameter can go in the yellow bin. Smaller lids go in the red landfill bin.

4. Soft plastics go in the red landfill bin.

   TRUE. So try to reduce the amount of soft plastic you buy.

5. Dog poo must not be placed in the green organics bin.

   FALSE. It can go into the green organics bin either loose or wrapped in newspaper or bagged in a compostable bag. If it’s in a plastic bag, it goes in the red landfill bin.

6. All metal can be placed in the yellow recycling bin.

   FALSE. Clean foil, steel and aluminium cans, metal lids and metal bottle caps can go in the yellow recycling bin. All other metal must go to a scrap metal recycler or in the red landfill bin.

7. Aerosol cans must go in the red landfill bin.

   FALSE. Empty aerosol cans should go in the yellow recycling bin.

8. Plastic plates, bowls and cups must go to landfill.
   FALSE. Put these in the yellow recycling bin.
   
   
9. Baking and greaseproof paper are not recyclable.
   TRUE and FALSE. These go in the red landfill bin unless they have the Australian-certified compostable logo, then use the green organics bin.
   
   
10. Blankets, sheets and towels go in the red landfill bin.

    TRUE. But better yet, donate clean bedding to the RSPCA or, if it’s in good condition, to charity. Sheridan recycles clean sheets, towels and quilt covers. Poor quality materials can be used for rags.

11. Used paper napkins and serviettes go in the green organics bin.
    TRUE. Place these in the green organics bin or compost for mulch at home.
    
    
12. Household batteries can go in the yellow recycling bin.

    FALSE. Batteries do not go in any of the kerbside bins. Take them to free local recycling drop-off points at council premises, supermarkets and other retail outlets.

13. Aluminium foil and trays can go in the yellow recycling bin.
    TRUE, but not always. Place them in the yellow recycling bin if they’re clean and in the red landfill bin if they’re dirty. Collect and ball up clean aluminium foil before recycling.
    
    
14. Christmas decorations go into the red landfill bin.
    TRUE. As most decorations are made from a mix of materials, they cannot be separated for recycling. But before you bin them, think how you can recycle and reuse them for next year.
    
    
15. Christmas trees can go in the yellow recycling bin.
    FALSE. Real trees can be chopped up and placed in the green organics bin or mulched at home. Artificial trees can go to charity if they’re in good condition. Otherwise, they go in the red bin, but recycle what you can – plastic leaves for next year’s decorations and metal stands to a scrap metal recycler.

National Recycling Week was established by Planet Ark in 1996. It is held in the second week of November every year.

See the council’s A-Z Disposal Guide for more detailed information on what items go in which bin.