Chloe Zhang
New Zealand has a poor recycling infrastructure and a complex approach to recycling across the country. While New Zealand facilities can only recycle three types of plastic (1, 2, and 5), the other plastics (3, 4, 6, and 7) are either sent overseas for re-manufacture or end up in landfills. The country's recycling is done domestically, as well as in Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, and China) and Australia.
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste management
Firstly, New Zealand has a poor recycling infrastructure, with an inconsistent approach to recycling across different regions. Each local council has its own recycling rules and standards, which can lead to confusion and a higher rate of plastic waste ending up in landfills. Standardising recycling practices nationwide would significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste sent to landfill, as currently, around 57% of packaging material is not recycled.
Secondly, New Zealand does not have the capacity to process all the plastic waste it generates. The country can only recycle three types of plastic (1, 2, and 5), while the remaining types (3, 4, 6, and 7) are more challenging to recycle and often uneconomical. As a result, some plastic waste is exported to other countries, primarily Thailand and Malaysia, for reprocessing. However, this practice has been criticised as it does not address the underlying issue of plastic waste generation.
To address these challenges, the New Zealand government has proposed several initiatives. These include phasing out hard-to-recycle plastics and single-use plastic items and investing in improving recycling infrastructure. Additionally, voluntary schemes like the Product Stewardship Scheme and the Code of Practice for Consumer Goods Packaging aim to minimise packaging waste.
At the community level, initiatives like the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme, led by the Packaging Forum, provide additional recycling options. This scheme collects soft plastics from bins in supermarkets nationwide, diverting them from landfills.
Overall, while New Zealand faces challenges in plastic waste management, there are ongoing efforts to improve recycling practices and reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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Recycling process
The recycling process for plastics in New Zealand involves several steps, and not all types of plastics can be recycled. Plastic types 1, 2, and 5 are the most commonly recycled, while others, such as 3, 4, 6, and 7, are more challenging and less economical to recycle.
The first step in the recycling process is the collection and sorting of plastics. This is often done through kerbside recycling schemes organised by local governments, where a waste collector takes selected recyclables from your collection bin. It's important to ensure that the plastics are clean and free from food or liquid residue to avoid contamination. Some local councils have specific rules and standards for recycling, so it's essential to check with your local council for any guidelines.
Once collected, the plastics are sorted and baled into like materials. They are then washed and shredded into flakes or granules. These flakes are then melted and pushed through an extruder, cooled, and pressed into a die before being chopped or pelletised into granules. This process results in a material similar to virgin plastic, which can be used to create new products.
New Zealand exports a significant portion of its recycled plastic for reprocessing overseas, mainly to Thailand and Malaysia. However, some plastic is also recycled domestically, with some companies offering plastic recycling services to reduce waste and promote the reuse of resources.
While New Zealand faces challenges in its recycling infrastructure and varying standards across local councils, efforts are being made to improve the system. The Environment Minister has announced plans to invest in recycling infrastructure and phase out hard-to-recycle plastics and single-use plastic items. Additionally, initiatives like the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme, operated by the Packaging Forum, provide additional recycling options for soft plastics.
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Plastic types and their recyclability
New Zealand facilities can recycle three types of plastic: 1, 2, and 5. The other plastic types (3, 4, 6, and 7) are challenging to recycle and often end up in landfills. Plastic bags, for example, can tangle in recycling machinery, risking endangering the process.
Plastic #1, also known as PET or PETE, is one of the most commonly used plastics in consumer products. It is found in most water bottles and other drink containers, as well as cooking oil containers and food jars. PET plastic is meant for single-use and should be recycled but not reused, as it is challenging to clean and can leach harmful chemicals.
HDPE, or plastic #2, is the stiff plastic used for milk, detergent, and oil bottles, as well as some plastic bags and toys. It is the most commonly recycled plastic due to its durability and weather resistance. It can be recycled into items like picnic tables, decking, waste bins, and park benches.
Polypropylene, or PP, is plastic #5. It is a tough, lightweight, heat-resistant plastic used in food containers like margarine and yoghurt tubs, as well as chip and cereal bags. Polypropylene is recyclable, but many recyclers do not accept it, and it is challenging to remove the smell of the original product.
Plastic #3, or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is not commonly recyclable and is often used for plastic food wrapping and tubing due to its soft and flexible nature. PVC products should not be reused, especially for food or children's items, as they contain toxins.
Low-density polyethylene, or LDPE (plastic #4), is used for plastic bags, shrink wraps, and other packaging. Technically, LDPE can be recycled, but it is not always accepted by recyclers due to the risk of tangling in machinery and the low financial value of the material.
Plastic #7 is the most challenging type to recycle and often consists of multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle materials. This category includes Styrofoam, which requires specialised handling and is not always accepted by recycling companies.
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Recycling infrastructure in NZ
New Zealand has a poor recycling infrastructure and an ad hoc approach to recycling across the country. The country's recycling infrastructure is characterised by a lack of standardisation, with local councils implementing their own recycling rules and standards, resulting in increased packaging material ending up in landfills.
New Zealand's recycling infrastructure faces several challenges. Firstly, the country lacks the capacity to process all the plastic waste it generates. While some recycling is done domestically, a significant portion is sent overseas, particularly to Asia and Australia. Plastic, paper, and metal are typically sent abroad for re-manufacturing, while cardboard and glass are generally converted into new products within New Zealand. However, the export of recyclable materials has led to issues, with high-income countries like New Zealand being accused of offloading their waste problems onto developing nations. For instance, the export of plastic waste to Malaysia and Thailand has resulted in illegal and toxic recycling dumpsites, causing water, soil, and air pollution, and negatively impacting the health of local communities.
Another challenge faced by New Zealand's recycling infrastructure is the limited types of plastic that can be recycled domestically. New Zealand facilities can only recycle three types of plastic (1, 2, and 5), with other types (3, 4, 6, and 7) being difficult to recycle. This limitation results in a significant amount of plastic waste being sent to landfills, with approximately 750 million plastic containers landfilled annually that could have been recycled.
To address these issues, various solutions have been proposed. One suggestion is the implementation of a nationwide recycling standard to streamline the recycling process and reduce the amount of recyclable material ending up in landfills due to inconsistent local council rules. Additionally, there is a need for clearer information on packaging to educate consumers about what can be recycled and where. Furthermore, while not specific to infrastructure, a voluntary Product Stewardship Scheme between the industry and Central Government aims to minimise packaging waste, and a Code of Practice for Consumer Goods Packaging provides guidelines for responsible packaging design.
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Recycling schemes and initiatives
New Zealand has a variety of recycling schemes and initiatives in place to manage its plastic waste. However, it is important to note that New Zealand does not have the capacity to process all the plastic waste it generates. As a result, some plastic waste is exported to other countries for recycling or re-manufacturing.
One of the main recycling schemes in New Zealand is the kerbside recycling scheme, organised by local governments. In this scheme, a contracted waste collector takes selected recyclables from residents' collection bins, sorts the materials, and bales the waste for distribution to a mechanical recycler. The mechanical recycler then processes the material for distribution to manufacturers. This scheme is in place across the country, with some variations in different regions. For example, the collection of #5 plastics was standardised across the country in February 2024.
In addition to the kerbside recycling scheme, there are also other initiatives and programmes focused on specific types of plastic or products. One example is the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme, run by the Packaging Forum, which has bins in the majority of supermarkets nationwide where people can drop off their soft plastics. Another example is the TechCollect NZ pilot program, which offers free recycling of electronic products such as laptops and printers.
New Zealand also has a voluntary Product Stewardship Scheme between the industry and central government, aimed at minimising packaging waste. There is also a Code of Practice for Consumer Goods Packaging and an independent system for performance monitoring and handling complaints procedures.
While these schemes and initiatives are in place, there is still room for improvement in New Zealand's recycling infrastructure and practices. Many involved in packaging and waste management believe that a nationwide recycling standard would help reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill. Additionally, there is a need for clearer information on packaging about what can be recycled and where.
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Frequently asked questions
New Zealand does not have the capacity to process all the plastic waste it generates. Plastic types 1, 2 and 5 are recycled in New Zealand, but most are sent to Thailand or Malaysia to become part of other plastic products. The rest is reprocessed in NZ and reused by NZ manufacturers.
These plastics are difficult to recycle and are uneconomical to do so. They often end up in landfills.
A nationwide recycling standard would help to reduce the amount of plastic going to landfill. Clearer information on packaging about what can be recycled and where would also help.
