CONTAIN YOUR WASTE IS ALL ABOUT WASTE REDUCTION

Whilst it’s important to recycle and reuse, reducing waste at the source is the most effective and efficient way to make a genuine impact in Australia, to decrease the amount of litter we find in our streets and public areas.

So for 1 week, we challenge you to choose an existing container from around the house – a jar, a tub, or a bucket and contain the amount of waste you produce that week to the capacity of your container.

You can try this challenge ANY TIME during the year, it doesn’t have to be in NOVEMBER, but we still want to hear from you and see how you went, so don’t forget to tag us @keepaustraliabeautiful #ContainYourWaste.

What is it?

Contain Your Waste is a former KAB Week campaign that proved so successful we now challenge ourselves every year! Each November we challenge you to rethink your waste habits.

The goal is to rethink, reduce, and contain all the waste you produce to fit inside a container of your choice. Challenge yourself to use reusables, avoid single-use plastics, and get creative about minimising waste at home and on the go.

Think about each item you throw out—can you recycle, compost, or repurpose it? Every small effort makes a big difference, helping to keep waste out of landfills and reduce our environmental footprint.

There are also creative ways to reuse soft plastics like zip-lock bags, bread bags, and postage bags. Instead of tossing them, consider giving these items a second life—use them for storage, as liners, or for DIY projects. By reusing soft plastics, we keep them out of landfill a little longer and reduce the need for new plastic bags.

Try setting aside a space to store soft plastics you can reuse and challenge yourself to get creative! It’s all about finding ways to reduce waste and embrace sustainable habits, one small step at a time.

What’s involved?

  • Step 1 : Make it official
    Register for the Contain Your Waste Challenge today, and help us Keep Australia Beautiful! We love hearing about how you’re going and what you have learned.

  • Step 2 : Pick your container 
    You don’t need to buy a container to #ContainYourWaste, reusing is key! Search for an old jar, ice-cream tub, laundry bucket, or small bathroom bin to help get you through the week! A lid is important to keep everything contained.

  • Step 3 : Get your household prepared for the week
    Plan out your meals and shopping lists, try out a bulk food store, get cooking or baking rather than buying pre-packaged food – and compost, compost, compost! Get tips here
    Remember, recyclable items don’t count towards your waste for the week and should be disposed of properly in the correct bins.

  • Step 4 : Be a Bin-Fluencer and Inspire others
    Be a Bin-Fluencer and rally up some healthy competition with your friends, family and work colleagues to see who can Contain their Waste for 1 Week! Bonus points if you can continue this behaviour after the challenge is over!

  • Step 5 : Upload your video or photos (optional)
    If you’re up for the extra challenge, please record your waste efforts over the week and share your video or photos with Keep Australia Beautiful by adding the tags #ContainYourWaste and @keepaustraliabeautiful. We love seeing how you contained your waste throughout the week, and we’re keen to hear what you found challenging about the experience.

Why do it?

Australians Falling Short on Recycling Targets

In Australia, we’re lucky to call one of the most beautiful environments in the world our home. Unfortunately though, we have very poor waste and recycling habits which jeopardise our wildlife, natural environment and the quality of life for future generations.

Of the 1.1M tonnes of Australian plastic packaging reportedly placed on the market, only 16% (179,000 tonnes) was recovered via recycling in 2021.* Australia is likely to miss our 2025 target to recycle or compost 70% of plastic packaging. The latest report from the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) estimates that only 36% of plastic packaging will end up in recycling or compost by 2025*.

APCO also indicates that Australians are only recycling 4% of soft plastics used for food packaging. The rest is ending up in land fill, or finding its way into our oceans.*

Other items made from recyclable packaging are also making their way into landfill rather than being recycled properly, due to incorrect disposal by consumers and businesses. Only 68% of paper/cardboard, 60% of glass, 37% of wood and 56% of metal were reported as recycled in 2021 by APCO*.

Three bins

What is it?

Contain Your Waste is a former KAB Week campaign that proved so successful we now challenge ourselves every year! Each November we challenge you to rethink your waste habits.

The goal is to rethink, reduce, and contain all the waste you produce to fit inside a container of your choice. Challenge yourself to use reusables, avoid single-use plastics, and get creative about minimising waste at home and on the go.

Think about each item you throw out—can you recycle, compost, or repurpose it? Every small effort makes a big difference, helping to keep waste out of landfills and reduce our environmental footprint.

There are also creative ways to reuse soft plastics like zip-lock bags, bread bags, and postage bags. Instead of tossing them, consider giving these items a second life—use them for storage, as liners, or for DIY projects. By reusing soft plastics, we keep them out of landfill a little longer and reduce the need for new plastic bags.

Try setting aside a space to store soft plastics you can reuse and challenge yourself to get creative! It’s all about finding ways to reduce waste and embrace sustainable habits, one small step at a time.

What’s involved?

  • Step 1 : Make it official
    Register for the Contain Your Waste Challenge today, and help us Keep Australia Beautiful! We love hearing about how you’re going and what you have learned.

  • Step 2 : Pick your container 
    You don’t need to buy a container to #ContainYourWaste, reusing is key! Search for an old jar, ice-cream tub, laundry bucket, or small bathroom bin to help get you through the week! A lid is important to keep everything contained.

  • Step 3 : Get your household prepared for the week
    Plan out your meals and shopping lists, try out a bulk food store, get cooking or baking rather than buying pre-packaged food – and compost, compost, compost! Get tips here
    Remember, recyclable items don’t count towards your waste for the week and should be disposed of properly in the correct bins.

  • Step 4 : Be a Bin-Fluencer and Inspire others
    Be a Bin-Fluencer and rally up some healthy competition with your friends, family and work colleagues to see who can Contain their Waste for 1 Week! Bonus points if you can continue this behaviour after the challenge is over!

  • Step 5 : Upload your video or photos (optional)
    If you’re up for the extra challenge, please record your waste efforts over the week and share your video or photos with Keep Australia Beautiful by adding the tags #ContainYourWaste and @keepaustraliabeautiful. We love seeing how you contained your waste throughout the week, and we’re keen to hear what you found challenging about the experience.

Why do it?

Australians Falling Short on Recycling Targets

In Australia, we’re lucky to call one of the most beautiful environments in the world our home. Unfortunately though, we have very poor waste and recycling habits which jeopardise our wildlife, natural environment and the quality of life for future generations.

Of the 1.1M tonnes of Australian plastic packaging reportedly placed on the market, only 16% (179,000 tonnes) was recovered via recycling in 2021.* Australia is likely to miss our 2025 target to recycle or compost 70% of plastic packaging. The latest report from the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) estimates that only 36% of plastic packaging will end up in recycling or compost by 2025*.

APCO also indicates that Australians are only recycling 4% of soft plastics used for food packaging. The rest is ending up in land fill, or finding its way into our oceans.*

Other items made from recyclable packaging are also making their way into landfill rather than being recycled properly, due to incorrect disposal by consumers and businesses. Only 68% of paper/cardboard, 60% of glass, 37% of wood and 56% of metal were reported as recycled in 2021 by APCO*.

Three bins

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Tips on how to Contain Your Waste

DIVERT FROM LANDFILL

Composting is a powerful way to reduce landfill waste. Organics should be home composted or placed in your green-waste bin. Organics that go into either your compost heap or the green bin include:

  • Apple cores, banana peels, lemon rind
  • Meat, bones, egg shells, fish
  • Left overs from the fridge and lunch boxes
  • Coffee grounds, tea leaves
  • Compostable teabags – remove staples
  • Sauces and creams
  • Mouldy cheese and yoghurt
  • Uneaten dog and cat food
  • Pet hair
  • Paper towel

Check with your local council for a list of acceptable items in your waste collection area.

REUSE SOFT PLASTICS

Instead of tossing them, consider giving these items a second life—use them for storage, as liners, or for DIY projects. By reusing soft plastics, we keep them out of landfill a little longer and reduce the need for new plastic bags.

Try setting aside a space to store soft plastics you can reuse and challenge yourself to get creative! It’s all about finding ways to reduce waste and embrace sustainable habits, one small step at a time.

Also it’s important to know the differences between Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics and then check your local council guidelines.

LEARN NEW HABITS

The Contain Your Waste Challenge urges us to think about new habits to carry forward. By focusing on small changes like substituting single-use items with reusable alternatives, we can make a lasting difference to the amount of waste produced that goes to landfill.

When shopping, choose products with minimal packaging, and get the family involved by making a “dinners list” for the week—cooking extra for leftovers saves time, money, and waste!

These small habits benefit the planet, your health, and your wallet. Encourage the kids to participate by picking waste-reducing challenges for the week. It’s a great way to make sustainability a family goal and keep the momentum going!

WHAT GOES IN THE JAR?

There are several items that can’t be recycled or composted and that means they need to go into your Contain Your Waste container.

Things like wet wipes, polystyrene, cellophane, toiletry tubes, syringes, and anything without a recycling logo.

Not all waste can be avoided, but knowing what goes in the jar helps us make informed choices and reduces contamination in recycling bins.

Before you make a purchase, check packaging and try to avoid buying items that go to landfill. You might be surprised how much you can avoid with small swaps!

Tips on how to
Contain Your Waste

DIVERT FROM LANDFILL

Composting is a powerful way to reduce landfill waste. Organics should be home composted or placed in your green-waste bin. Organics that go into either your compost heap or the green bin include:

  • Apple cores, banana peels, lemon rind
  • Meat, bones, egg shells, fish
  • Left overs from the fridge and lunch boxes
  • Coffee grounds, tea leaves
  • Compostable teabags – remove staples
  • Sauces and creams
  • Mouldy cheese and yoghurt
  • Uneaten dog and cat food
  • Pet hair
  • Paper towel

Check with your local council for a list of acceptable items in your waste collection area.

REUSE SOFT PLASTICS

Instead of tossing them, consider giving these items a second life—use them for storage, as liners, or for DIY projects. By reusing soft plastics, we keep them out of landfill a little longer and reduce the need for new plastic bags.

Try setting aside a space to store soft plastics you can reuse and challenge yourself to get creative! It’s all about finding ways to reduce waste and embrace sustainable habits, one small step at a time.

Also it’s important to know the differences between Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics and then check your local council guidelines.

LEARN NEW HABITS

The Contain Your Waste Challenge urges us to think about new habits to carry forward. By focusing on small changes like substituting single-use items with reusable alternatives, we can make a lasting difference to the amount of waste produced that goes to landfill.

When shopping, choose products with minimal packaging, and get the family involved by making a “dinners list” for the week—cooking extra for leftovers saves time, money, and waste!

These small habits benefit the planet, your health, and your wallet. Encourage the kids to participate by picking waste-reducing challenges for the week. It’s a great way to make sustainability a family goal and keep the momentum going!

WHAT GOES IN THE JAR?

There are several items that can’t be recycled or composted and that means they need to go into your Contain Your Waste container.

Things like wet wipes, polystyrene, cellophane, toiletry tubes, syringes, and anything without a recycling logo.

Not all waste can be avoided, but knowing what goes in the jar helps us make informed choices and reduces contamination in recycling bins.

Before you make a purchase, check packaging and try to avoid buying items that go to landfill. You might be surprised how much you can avoid with small swaps!

Need inspiration on how to contain your waste in one jar?
Here are some stories from some incredible people who share their experience:

We want to see how you reduce your waste this year. Don’t forget to tag: #ContainYourWaste @keepaustraliabeautiful on your socials!

See our Brand Manager, Laura Carrazza, explain the Contain Your Waste Challenge she did in 2022 (Note that RedCyle was available at the time this video was filmed in August 2022 – so your soft plastics will now go in your container!)

Keep Australia Beautiful’s Brand & Marketing Manager, Laura Carrazza, talks to Souhad & Samia from 2MFM about the Contain Your Waste Challenge.
Covering important tips around the importance of reducing land-fill through waste-free purchases, sustainable packaging, recycling, composting and general household waste reduction.

Need inspiration on how to contain your waste in one jar?

Here are some stories from some incredible people who share their experience:

We want to see how you reduce your waste this year. Don’t forget to tag: #ContainYourWaste @keepaustraliabeautiful on your socials!

See our Brand Manager, Laura Carrazza, explain the Contain Your Waste Challenge she did in 2022 (Note that RedCyle was available at the time this video was filmed in August 2022 – so your soft plastics will now go in your container!)

Keep Australia Beautiful’s Brand & Marketing Manager, Laura Carrazza, talks to Souhad & Samia from 2MFM about the Contain Your Waste Challenge.
Covering important tips around the importance of reducing land-fill through waste-free purchases, sustainable packaging, recycling, composting and general household waste reduction.