Maya Ellison
Soft plastic bags can be recycled in New Zealand through the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme. The scheme accepts all forms of soft plastic packaging, including grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and plastic wrappers from biscuits, chips, and other products. To recycle soft plastic bags, individuals can collect their clean, empty, and dry soft plastic packaging at home and drop them into the Soft Plastics Recycling bins at supermarkets and other stores. Another option is to purchase a pre-paid Soft Plastic Recycle Courier bag from NZ Post, fill it with clean soft plastic, and either book a courier pickup or drop it off at an NZ Post store. It's important to note that metal objects and hard plastic should not be placed in soft plastics recycling bins as they can damage the processing plant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soft plastic bags | Can be recycled |
| Rigid plastic trays | Cannot be recycled in soft plastic bins; check with your local council |
| Compostable, degradable, or biodegradable bags | Cannot be recycled |
| Metal objects | Cannot be recycled in soft plastic bins as they damage the processing plant |
| Food scraps and liquid | Cannot be recycled in soft plastic bins as they contaminate other bags |
| Cleanliness | Soft plastic bags must be clean, empty, and dry before recycling |
| Collection points | Soft Plastics Recycling bins at supermarkets and other stores |
| Accepted packaging | Bread bags, bubble wrap, pet food bags, frozen food bags, toilet paper bags, cereal bags, biscuit wrappers, chocolate bar wrappers, cracker wrappers, chip packets, foiled coffee pouches |
| Plastic numbers | 1, 2, and 5 are accepted by some councils |
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What You'll Learn
Soft plastics recycling bins
Soft plastics can be recycled in New Zealand. Soft plastic packaging, such as grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and plastic wrappers for biscuits, chips, and other similar products, can be recycled. Soft plastics that can be scrunched into a ball are acceptable. However, it is important to ensure that the bags are clean, empty, and dry before dropping them into the soft plastics recycling bins. Food scraps and liquid residue can contaminate other bags in the bin and restrict recyclability.
The Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme in New Zealand provides soft plastics recycling bins at supermarkets and other stores. You can identify these bins by their green and white colour scheme. Over 87% of people in New Zealand now have access to a soft plastics recycling bin within 20km of their home or workplace. The scheme collects soft plastics from selected stores, including Woolworths, The Warehouse, New World, and Pak'nSave.
It is important to note that not all plastic packaging is accepted in the soft plastics recycling bins. Compostable, degradable, or biodegradable packaging should not be placed in these bins. This includes compostable plastic bags and plant-based plastics. Small paper labels on soft plastics do not need to be removed, but if the label covers most of the item, it should be excluded. Additionally, metal cans and metal objects must not be placed in soft plastics recycling bins as they can damage the processing plant.
To recycle plastic bags and food packaging, it is recommended to rinse the packaging, turn it inside out to air-dry overnight, and then place it with other collected clean, dry, and empty plastic packaging. This ensures that the plastic is ready for recycling and does not contain any food or liquid residue that could contaminate other recyclables.
By participating in soft plastics recycling, individuals can help reduce waste sent to landfills and enable the reuse of valuable resources. This initiative contributes to a more sustainable future for New Zealand.
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Preparing plastic bags for recycling
Plastic bags can be recycled in New Zealand, but it's important to prepare them properly to ensure they can be processed correctly and don't contaminate other recyclables. Here are the steps to prepare your plastic bags for recycling:
- Collect all your soft plastic bags: This includes grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and any other soft plastic packaging you use at home. Even the thin foil-like plastic sleeves and packets that some biscuits, chocolate bars, crackers, and chips come in can be recycled. However, compostable, degradable, or biodegradable bags should be avoided as they may start to degrade before they can be processed.
- Clean the bags: Make sure the bags are "empty, clean, and dry." Give them a quick rinse, especially if they have come into contact with food, and then turn them inside out to air-dry overnight. This step is crucial to preventing food scraps and liquids from contaminating other bags in the recycling bin.
- Drop off or courier collection: Once your bags are clean and dry, you have two main options for recycling them. You can take them to participating supermarkets or stores that have Soft Plastics Recycling bins, usually identified by their green and white colour scheme. Alternatively, you can purchase a pre-paid Soft Plastic Recycle Courier bag from NZ Post and book a free courier pickup or drop it off at your local NZ Post store.
- Keep them together: When dropping off your soft plastics, ensure they are contained within a larger bag, such as one of the pre-paid Soft Plastic Recycle Courier bags. This helps keep your recyclables together and prevents them from getting mixed with other types of waste.
- Scrunch test: If you're unsure whether a particular type of plastic can be recycled, try the scrunch test. Simply scrunch the plastic up in your hand, and if it doesn't bounce back to its original shape, it's likely recyclable. This test helps identify soft plastics that are suitable for recycling.
By following these steps, you can properly prepare your plastic bags for recycling, contributing to a more sustainable future for New Zealand.
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Plastic types accepted for recycling
Soft plastics can be recycled in New Zealand. Soft plastic packaging, such as grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and plastic wrappers for biscuits, chips, and other products, can be recycled. The rule of thumb is that the plastic should be one that can be scrunched up and does not bounce back.
Thin foil-like plastic sleeves and packets that some biscuits, chocolate bars, crackers, and chips come in can be recycled. Foiled coffee pouches can also be recycled. Small paper labels can be left on, but if the label covers most of the item, it should be removed.
Degradable, compostable, or biodegradable bags are not accepted for recycling. This is because they may start to degrade before they are processed. Similarly, food scraps and liquids will contaminate other bags in the bin, so soft plastics must be clean, empty, and dry. Hard plastic and metal objects are also not accepted as they can damage the processing plant.
From 1 February 2024, all councils will collect rigid plastics (numbers 1, 2, and 5) at kerbside.
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Plastic bags that can't be recycled
In New Zealand, plastic bags can be recycled through the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme. The scheme accepts all forms of soft plastic packaging, including grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and plastic wrappers from biscuits, chips, and other products. However, there are certain types of plastic bags that cannot be recycled through this scheme or standard recycling processes.
Firstly, degradable, compostable, or biodegradable bags are not accepted by the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme in New Zealand. These bags are designed to break down in the general waste stream and may start to degrade before they can be processed for recycling. Similarly, plant-based plastics are not accepted by the scheme.
Black plastic bags are also more challenging to recycle. The dyed plastic produces dark pellets during the recycling process, limiting the reprocessing options. While some communities and states have implemented bag bans or bag taxes, others require retailers to accept distributed bags for recycling.
Crinkly plastic bags, such as pre-washed salad bags, chip bags, and cereal box liners, are made from different types of plastic that are often not recyclable. These bags can tear easily and are not suitable for recycling drop-offs. Instead, they can cause issues by getting tangled in sorting machines.
Additionally, plastic bags should not be used to contain other recyclables. Recyclers prefer loose items in curbside bins to facilitate easier sorting. Plastic bags can gum up the works and cause issues for machinery at recycling facilities. It is recommended to keep a bag collection bin at home and ensure that any bags intended for recycling are clean, empty, and dry.
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What happens to recycled plastic bags
In New Zealand, there are Soft Plastics Recycling bins at supermarkets and other stores where you can drop off your soft plastic bags and packaging for recycling. These bins are usually green and white. The Soft Plastics Recycling Programme accepts all forms of soft plastic packaging from all brands, including grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, biscuit wrappers, and chip packets. However, it is important to ensure that the bags are clean, empty, and dry before placing them in the recycling bins. Metal objects and food scraps should be avoided as they can damage the processing plant and contaminate other bags, respectively.
While it is challenging to determine the exact destination of recycled plastic bags due to the dynamic nature of the recycling industry, they can be recycled with specialist machines. Most plastic bags are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), which can be recycled using these specialized machines. However, plastic bag recycling is not typically done through curbside collection services.
The recycled plastic bags are processed and given new life as different products. For example, they can be recycled into new bags, such as eco-friendly shopping bags, or used in the construction industry as composite lumber for outdoor decking, fencing, and paneling. Recycled plastic bags can also be transformed into textiles and fabrics for clothing, carpets, and upholstery. Additionally, they can be used as filler for sleeping bags, life jackets, and winter coats.
Despite the efforts to recycle plastic bags, it is important to recognize that they are often used only once and for a short time before being discarded. This has led to an accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and the ocean, causing environmental concerns. To address this issue, some places have implemented bans or charges on plastic bags, encouraging the use of reusable bags instead.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft plastics such as grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, and plastic wrappers for biscuits, chips, and other products can be recycled. You can also recycle thin foil-like plastic sleeves and packets for biscuits, chocolate bars, crackers, and chips.
To recycle plastic bags in NZ, collect all the soft plastic packaging you use at home, make sure the bags are clean, empty, and dry, and drop them into the Soft Plastics Recycling bins at supermarkets and other stores. Look out for the green and white soft plastics recycling bins.
You can recycle courier bags, pet food bags, produce and frozen food bags, toilet paper bags, and cereal bags. If you're unsure, take the scrunch/squeeze test – scrunch/squeeze your plastic up, and if it doesn’t bounce back to its shape, it can be recycled.
No, compostable, degradable, or biodegradable bags cannot be recycled. These bags are designed to break down in the general waste stream and may start to degrade before they are processed for recycling.
