Try to avoid products that have excessive or unnecessary packaging. Vote with your consumer dollar!

For example self-saucing puddings can come in steel cans and plastic tubs. Most councils collect steel food cans and they are fully recyclable. However, one brand of pudding comes in a plastic that is generally not collected by councils.

Think about the waste that will be generated as a result of you buying that item and choose products accordingly.

If you’re uncertain about your local recycling services check out Planet Ark’s Recycling Near You website and search on your post code or your council name.

3) Buy products that have recycled content in their packaging.

It's important to 'buy recycled' as this creates a demand for recycled materials and keeps the recycling industries financially healthy. So support Australia's recycling industries and 'buy recycled' wherever possible.

4) Buy products made from recycled materials.

Some products are themselves made from recycled materials, not just their packaging. For example SAFE toilet tissue is made from recycled office paper.

The average Australian household uses 94 rolls of toilet paper every year. If each household substituted four rolls of ordinary toilet tissue with SAFE recycled toilet tissue, an extra 10,000 tonnes of office paper could be recycled.

There are many other products that are made from recycled materials. The following is a sample of the diverse range of materials that currently contain recycled content.