The NimBinChickens project is always seeking more scrap plastic to contain. Each type of plastic has different properties, and in particular different melting and burning temperatures. It’s very important that all our plastic is sorted correctly before we begin to process it, otherwise we get burnt bits, fumes, and other toxic stuff show up.
We will gladly accept any plastic which has been sorted as follows:
Step 1: Remove Contamination
Contamination is anything that isn’t plastic. This includes food scraps, labels, seals, stickers, bits of metal, paper, and anything else which won’t melt properly. Any contamination will break our machines, so this step is very important. Make sure you split any containers which have multiple types of plastic, such as meat trays with the hard base and the film lid.
Step 2: Wash Plastic Pieces
Because most plastic scraps are food or drink packaging, they get sticky and smelly if not properly cleaned. This makes our workshop and machines sticky and smelly too – yuck. Please make sure you thoroughly rinse all plastic with hot water or dishwashing detergent before bringing to us.
Step 3: Sort by Recycling Code
Most single-use plastic bits have a number code stamped on them. This code tells us what sort of plastic it is made from. It will usually be inside a recycling triangle symbol. Throw anything with #1 (PET) right back into your recycling bin – we don’t use it, but the big recycling factories love it. We collect #2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE), and #5 (PP). Keep each number in a separate container. Separate soft plastics into another container. More information about the different plastic codes can be found here.
Step 4 (optional) Sort by Colour
We love playing with different colours, but when they’re all melted together at once, the end products come out a muddy brown! Each colour is chipped individually, and then we choose which colours to use in our projects. Sorting colours is an easy job which even young children and the invalid often enjoy. We can easily do this part ourselves, so if you simply want to provide resources and don’t have a lot of spare time, skip this part and continue to the next step.
Step 5: Take plastics to a collection point
Our main plastic collection site is at 7 Sibley St, Nimbin NSW. Plastics can be dropped off in the recycling bin marked for this purpose, or with the shop volunteers during open times. Various recycling groups in other areas also collect plastics for our machines – check here to find out if any are in your local area. If not, you can send to 7 Sibley by post – prepaid parcel packs are usually the cheapest. Contact us to discuss other options if none of the above are suitable for your situation. We are also seeking to connect with other individuals or groups interested in acting as collection points for us in different areas. Please contact us if you are interested in doing so!