Kiwis' Efforts: Recycling Plastic Statistics Unveiled

New Zealand has a poor recycling infrastructure and an ad hoc approach to recycling. While 97% of New Zealanders have access to recycling facilities, only 58% of the 735,000 tonnes of packaging consumed each year is recycled. The remaining 42% ends up in landfills, contributing to New Zealand's waste problem. The country is one of the highest waste generators in the world, discarding 17.5 million tonnes of waste annually, of which 12.6 million tonnes end up in landfills. While some types of plastic are recycled in New Zealand, such as PET (1), HDPE (2), and PP (5), others are more difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills. The country has been criticized for exporting its plastic waste to developing countries like Thailand and Malaysia, where it is often dumped, burned, or 'processed' in unregulated ways, causing environmental and health issues in those communities.

New Zealand's poor recycling infrastructure

New Zealand has poor recycling infrastructure and an ad hoc approach to recycling. While 97% of New Zealanders have access to recycling facilities for paper, glass, cans, and plastics, the country's recycling infrastructure is lacking. New Zealand households throw out 1.76 billion plastic containers each year, or 159 grams of plastic per person per day, making them one of the highest waste generators in the world. Despite this, only around 58% of the 735,000 tonnes of packaging consumed annually is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills.

The main issue lies in the types of plastic that can be recycled. New Zealand facilities can only recycle three types of plastic: 1, 2, and 5. Other types of plastic, such as 3, 4, 6, and 7, are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills. Additionally, mixed-material packaging, such as plastic bottles with shrink-wrapped sleeves or multi-layered products, cannot be recycled and often end up in landfills as well. This is due to the limitations of New Zealand's recycling infrastructure and the inability of recyclers to separate and process these materials effectively.

The country's recycling process is also hindered by the presence of food waste and other contaminants. Lids on bottles, for example, can lower the overall quality of recycling if they are left on because they are often made from different types of plastic. Even when removed, the small size of lids means they often slip through sorting systems and end up in landfills. Food waste can also contaminate plastic, making it more difficult and costly to recycle.

To improve New Zealand's recycling infrastructure, the government has pledged to invest significantly in recycling infrastructure and adopt better practices for offshore waste management. Local councils are also working to educate the public on proper recycling practices and initiatives to tackle larger issues. Additionally, some councils are phasing out problematic public recycling bins and focusing on realistic recycling solutions.

While New Zealand faces challenges with its recycling infrastructure, there are ongoing efforts to improve the situation. Individuals can also play a role by reducing their waste, choosing products with recyclable packaging, and properly rinsing and sorting their recyclables.

Plastic waste exported to Thailand and Malaysia

New Zealanders consume around 735,000 tonnes of packaging annually, with only 58% of it being recycled. Between 2018 and 2021, New Zealand exported over 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste, mainly to Thailand and Malaysia.

Malaysia is one of the world's major importers of plastic waste. In 2021, the country imported more than 500,000 tonnes of plastic waste and exported around 11,000 tonnes. The country has become a dumping ground for plastic waste from Western countries, particularly those in the European Union. Malaysia's Environment Minister, Nik Nazmi, has expressed concerns about the country becoming "the world's rubbish bin". Despite the government's efforts to prevent this, data shows an increase in plastic waste sent to Malaysia from the EU.

Thailand has also been a significant recipient of plastic waste from New Zealand. The country has experienced a boom in plastic imports from Western nations due to lower labour costs and weaker exchange rates, making it cheaper for these countries to export their waste. In 2018, plastic waste imports into Thailand surged to over 500,000 tonnes, a significant increase from previous years. However, Thailand has recently implemented a ban on plastic waste imports, recognising the negative impact on its communities and environment.

New Zealand's recycling efforts have been criticised, with a Consumer NZ-led assessment revealing that the country has a low environmental standing. The country's recycling infrastructure requires significant investment, particularly in managing soft plastics. Soft plastics, such as plastic bags and food wrap, are challenging to process and have limited collection points in New Zealand. There is a need for better data and management of plastic waste in the country to improve recycling practices.

Plastic waste in landfills

The low recycling rate has significant consequences for the environment, particularly in the form of plastic waste in landfills. It is estimated that about 252,000 tonnes of plastic waste are disposed of in New Zealand landfills each year, constituting around 8% of the country's total waste stream by weight. This plastic waste contributes to the larger global issue of plastic pollution, as landfills worldwide are already struggling to manage the sheer volume of plastic.

The problem with plastic in landfills is that it is challenging to degrade, persisting in the environment for decades. If a landfill is properly constructed and managed, plastic waste can be contained and sequestered. However, if landfills are mismanaged or fill up, plastic waste can leak into the surrounding environment, particularly nearby waterways. This leakage has severe multisectoral impacts on health, the environment, and the economy.

The degradation of plastic waste in landfills can also lead to the release of harmful substances. As plastic breaks down, it forms microplastics, which can be transported by air and leachate, contaminating surrounding ecosystems. Additionally, the oxidative photodegradation of plastics can release toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), posing risks to both the environment and human health.

To address the issue of plastic waste in landfills, New Zealand has proposed several solutions. These include increasing landfill levies, investing in recycling infrastructure, and adopting better practices for managing waste. The country has also recognised the importance of reducing plastic consumption and promoting reusable alternatives to single-use plastics. By implementing these measures, New Zealand aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and improve its recycling rate.

Plastic waste in waterways

New Zealand has a significant plastic waste problem. While 97% of New Zealanders have access to recycling facilities for paper, glass, cans, and plastics, the country's overall recycling rate is low. Between January 2018 and March 2021, New Zealand exported over 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste, mainly to Thailand and Malaysia. This waste is often dumped, burned, or 'processed' in unregulated ways, leading to water, soil, and air pollution, and negatively impacting the health of local communities.

The sources and pathways of plastic pollution in waterways are complex and vary over time. Plastic pollution in streams can be attributed to localized impacts, such as run-off from rubbish left in parks. Community-led monitoring methods are being developed to enable the public to monitor the state of plastic pollution in their rivers. These methods will assist in building cross-cultural understandings of the spatial and temporal impacts of plastic pollution on cultural values.

To address the problem of plastic waste in waterways, it is essential to manage plastic on land before it reaches the rivers. This can be achieved through catchment stormwater management plans and by reducing the use of single-use plastics. Reuse systems for plastic products are also important in combating the waste generated by single-use plastic packaging. By improving the management and monitoring of plastic waste and working together to find solutions, New Zealand can strive to reduce plastic pollution in its waterways.

Plastic recycling methods

While New Zealanders are perceived as clean and green, the country has significant problems with plastic waste. Every year, New Zealanders discard 17.5 million tonnes of waste, of which 12.6 million tonnes end up in landfills. This means that only about 28% of the total waste generated in New Zealand is recycled.

Now, let's delve into the various plastic recycling methods that can help address this issue.

Recycling is the process of collecting waste materials, converting them into raw materials, and then processing them into new products. There are three main types of recycling methods: mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and a wet process known as a sink-float separator.

Mechanical Recycling

Mechanical recycling is the most common method used for plastic recycling. It involves grinding, washing, sorting, and reprocessing plastic waste to repurpose it into new products. This traditional method has been used for decades and is responsible for most plastic recycling worldwide. The process includes:

• Collection and Separation: Recyclable materials are collected and separated from waste.
• Grinding and Shredding: Plastics are then ground and shredded into smaller pieces or flakes.
• Washing: The plastic flakes undergo a washing process to remove contaminants, using friction washers or rotary washers.
• Sorting: Further sorting is done to ensure a pure stream of material, including optical sorting and separation by thickness, colour, size, and plastic type.
• Reprocessing: The sorted plastic is then sold to manufacturers for reprocessing into new products.

Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling is a newer technology that breaks down the polymer structure of plastics to create raw, high-quality material. There are three main chemical recycling processes:

• Pyrolysis: Polymers are heated in the absence of oxygen, breaking down into smaller parts that behave like oil. This synthetic oil can be used as feedstock in the petrochemical industry.
• Gasification: Polymers are heated in the presence of oxygen and water, creating a mixture of gases (syngas) used as feedstock in the chemical industry.
• Depolymerization: Certain types of plastics can be cut down into monomers, creating a starting material for the production of new plastic.

Sink-Float Separator

This wet process involves filling a tank with water and plastic for recycling. High-density plastics sink, while low-density plastics float, facilitating their separation for further processing.

By employing these recycling methods and improving waste management practices, New Zealand can move towards a more sustainable future and reduce its environmental impact.

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