Reading Compostable and Recyclable Labels at the Bin

You’re standing over the bins with a takeaway cup in your hand. The side says “eco”, it feels a bit like paper and a bit like plastic, and you’re fairly sure it doesn’t belong in the kitchen recycling. It’s a small moment, and a very common one, and there’s a simple way through it.

The word “eco-friendly” on its own tells you almost nothing. What helps is knowing which of four things the packaging is, and what to look for on the label.

What “eco-friendly packaging” can mean

The phrase gets used for several different things:

• Recyclable. Materials like cardboard, paper, aluminium and some plastics that can go through a recycling system.
• Compostable. Plant-based materials designed to break down in composting conditions.
• Reusable. Packaging made to be used many times, such as crates, jars and returnable containers.
• Minimal. Packaging that cuts out unnecessary layers in the first place.

They’re not interchangeable. A compostable container that goes in the recycling can cause problems, and a recyclable one that ends up in compost won’t break down. Knowing which one you have is most of the battle.

Why it’s worth the effort

Packaging is a daily source of household waste, and the Australian Government’s National Waste Report 2022 includes a feature on the National Packaging Targets. Choosing packaging that can be reused, recycled or composted helps keep it out of landfill and out of waterways, and it supports Australia’s National Packaging Targets, which APCO helps coordinate. The targets aim for packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable, with more recycled content going into new packaging.

You don’t have to carry the whole thing yourself. A few good habits at the bin and at the checkout go a long way.

Reusable first, then recyclable, then compostable

My suggestion is to treat the choices as a ladder, and take the highest rung available.

1. Reusable. A container or cup you use again and again beats almost anything single-use, because the packaging never becomes waste in the first place.
2. Recyclable and labelled. Look for the Australasian Recycling Label on packaging, which tells you which parts go in which bin. It’s run by APCO, and it takes away some of the guessing at the bin.
3. Compostable and certified. Useful, but with a catch, covered next.
4. Vague claims. “Eco”, “green” and “biodegradable” on their own aren’t a reason to choose a product.

The catch with “compostable”

Compostable isn’t one thing. Australia has two standards for it. AS 4736:2006 covers packaging that breaks down in industrial composting facilities, and AS 5810:2010 covers packaging that breaks down in a home compost. Packaging that meets one standard doesn’t automatically meet the other, so “compostable” can mean “needs a commercial facility”.

That matters because many councils don’t accept compostable packaging in the food and garden organics bin, and it can’t be recycled either. If the nearest industrial composter doesn’t take it, a compostable cup can end up in landfill anyway. Check what your own council accepts, and look for certification to the relevant standard rather than a plain “compostable” claim.

The competition regulator, the ACCC, has also published guidance for businesses on making environmental claims. The core idea is that claims shouldn’t be vague or overstated, so “green” or “eco-friendly” with nothing to back them up is the kind of wording to treat with caution.

The fair point for compostables

It’s worth giving the other side its due. Compostable packaging makes sense in some places, especially where food residue makes recycling hard and there’s a commercial composting collection, such as events or some workplaces. In those settings it can be a good fit. The trouble starts when it’s chosen for everyday use without the collection to match.

Where you’ll see it in everyday life

• Cafes and takeaway shops use compostable cups, paper straws and cardboard containers. Ask whether they go to an industrial composting collection or just the general bin.
• Online shops are moving to recycled cardboard, paper tape and mailers. Some encourage you to reuse the packaging for returns or storage.
• Moving house is a good time to choose reusable crates or recycled cardboard rather than single-use materials.
• Fresh food markets and supermarkets offer paper produce bags and compostable trays, while many people simply bring their own containers.

If you’ve started composting at home, a home compost bin can handle food scraps and garden waste, but it can’t be assumed to handle every item labelled compostable. Only items certified for home composting belong there. And for a home checklist and a way to read waste-technology headlines, see a home waste checklist and how to read waste-technology claims.

If you’re choosing packaging for a small business

These questions make a good short list for a supplier:

• Is it recyclable or compostable in my customers’ local council areas, not only in theory?
• Is it certified, and can the supplier show the certificate?
• Does it protect the product well enough? Damaged goods create more waste than any wrapper saves.
• Can it be reused or repurposed?
• Is the material sourced responsibly?

Packaging that fails on protection or that customers can’t dispose of properly isn’t doing its job, however green it looks.

What to do at the bin

You don’t need to change everything this week. Tomorrow, pick one item from your bin, check the label for a recycling mark or a certification, and find out what your council says about it. Once you’ve done it for one cup or one container, the next ones come a lot easier.

Sources: APCO, Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, National Packaging Targets and the Australasian Recycling Label (https://apco.org.au/national-packaging-targets); Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Waste Report 2022 (https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/national-waste-reports/2022); Standards Australia, AS 4736:2006 and AS 5810:2010, biodegradable plastics suitable for composting (https://www.standards.org.au/); Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, environmental and sustainability claims guidance for business (https://www.accc.gov.au/business/advertising-and-promotions/environmental-and-sustainability-claims)