Recycle Mate is our new bestie!
Even after all these years of recycling being available in Australia, we can still be overwhelmed with what each item requires, to dispose of it thoughtfully and sustainably.
Enter: The best tool yet for figuring it out on the go.
Recycle Mate is a free, easy to download app, which will take the guesswork out of what goes where, when it comes to reducing your personal waste footprint to a record low.
It’s as Easy as One, Two, Three:
Add your location and select your local council to get started.
1. Take a photo of any item
2. Confirm the material of the item
3. Receive clear disposal instructions
Even in the Whitsundays, we have full access to this groundbreaking tool to increase recycling rates, reduce contamination and minimise landfill.
Led by the recycling industry, through the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR), in a Southern Hemisphere first, Recycle Mate was developed as a response to householder desire to move recycling closer to 100 per cent.
Following a Brisbane trial, in 2021, Recycle Mate was a finalist in the Banksia awards, in 2022.
The app has been rolled out nationwide, with more than 30,000 waste disposal locations and 540 councils across Australia.
We are thrilled to be able to use such a simple, effective resource right here at home.
The development of the app was built on the belief that, as a community, when we get it right at the bin, manufacturers can get it right in the factory.
How Does It Work?
Recycle Mate uses cutting edge photo recognition technology to identify and recognise any item.
As a result of crowd sourcing knowledge through the trial to improve the app, Recycle Mate has become a reliable ‘go to’ as Australia’s leading national recycling education platform.
With every scan and every item added, the app continues to improve.
It promotes responsible waste disposal, empowers the community and encourages a circular economy. What’s not to love?
What does this mean for the Whitsundays?
We are encouraged, as this complements the current ‘Let’s Get It Sorted’ initiative, led by Whitsunday Regional Council.
By downloading and using Recycle Mate, we move ever closer to being the first Zero Waste town in Australia.
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