Chloe Zhang
New Zealanders are proud of their country's clean, green image. However, the country's recycling rates are low compared to other nations. Brazil and New Zealand are the worst countries for practical recycling rates, with around 57% of New Zealand's packaging not being recycled. Kiwis consume around 735,000 tonnes of packaging annually, with only 58% hitting the recycling bin. This amounts to 252,000 tons of plastic going to landfills every year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Annual plastic packaging consumption per person | 31kg |
| Percentage of plastic packaging recycled | 5.58kg or 18% |
| Percentage of population with access to recycling facilities for paper, glass, cans, and plastics 1 and 2 | 97% |
| Plastic waste exported from January 2018 to March 2021 | 98,000 tonnes |
| Plastic waste exported annually | 45,000 tonnes |
| Percentage of plastic waste exported | 90% |
| Plastic bags reused at least once | 80% |
| Plastic bags recycled in 2017 through the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme | 365 tonnes |
| Plastic recycled through the public place collection scheme between 2012 and 2015 | 460 tonnes |
| Plastic recycled in 2005 | 39,100 tonnes |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling rates in New Zealand
New Zealanders are known for their clean, green identity, but the country's recycling rates tell a different story. Brazil and New Zealand had the worst practical recycling rates among nine nations assessed by Consumer NZ in 2022. Around 57% of New Zealand's packaging was not recycled, while Brazil failed to process about 92% of its recycling.
The average New Zealander consumes approximately 31kg of plastic packaging each year, but only 5.58kg is recycled. Plastic accounts for about 8% of New Zealand's waste by weight, but because plastic is so light, it is estimated to take up as much as 20% of landfill space. Around 252,000 tons of plastic ends up in landfills every year, and it won't biodegrade. It will take over 400 years for this plastic to degrade, and even then, it will only disintegrate into smaller pieces.
The Packaging Council of NZ revealed that Kiwis consume around 735,000 tonnes of packaging annually, with only 58% recycled. 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. The New Zealand government has recognised the problem and plans to invest in recycling infrastructure and adopt better practices for waste sent offshore.
New Zealand uses mechanical recycling, where plastics are collected, sorted, and baled into like materials. They are then washed, shredded into flakes, melted, and pushed through an extruder to be remade into new products. Most local council recycling schemes do not collect soft plastics, but the industry-led Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme collected 365 tonnes in 2017. This scheme was put on hold in 2018 but resumed in late 2019 in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington.
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Plastic waste exports
New Zealand's recycling rates are low compared to other countries. Between 2012 and 2015, around 460 tonnes of plastic were recycled through the public place collection scheme. However, the country exported over 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste between January 2018 and March 2021, with more than 46,000 tonnes sent to Malaysia and Thailand.
High-income countries like New Zealand offload their plastic waste overseas, and the pollution problem becomes out of sight, out of mind. This waste is often dumped, burned, or 'processed' in unregulated ways, resulting in water, soil, and air pollution. The toxins leached during this process have had disastrous effects on local communities, with increasing cancer rates and a steady decline in overall health.
Greenpeace Aotearoa is campaigning for a ban on plastic waste exports, with over 37,000 signatures on their petition. They argue that New Zealand continues to allow the manufacture, sale, and consumption of products and packaging that it has no way to manage, so it exports the problem to developing countries.
The country has also faced criticism for exporting contaminated plastics. In 2020, Indonesia returned five containers of contaminated plastics to New Zealand at Indonesia's cost. Only two of the five containers were located, and it is suspected that the other three were either illegally traded to another developing country or otherwise disposed of.
The New Zealand government has recently announced plans to phase out some hard-to-recycle single-use plastics. However, critics argue that this does not go far enough and that more emphasis is needed on banning single-use plastics and producing suitable alternatives.
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Plastic waste management
New Zealand's performance in plastic waste management has been less than impressive, with a recent assessment revealing that the country has low recycling rates. Between January 2018 and March 2021, New Zealand exported over 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste, mainly to Thailand and Malaysia. This offloading of waste has led to the proliferation of illegal and toxic recycling dumpsites in undeveloped communities in these countries, causing water, soil, and air pollution, and adverse health effects on local communities.
To improve plastic waste management in New Zealand, the government has pledged to invest significantly in recycling infrastructure and adopt better practices for offshore waste management. Additionally, the country has implemented the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme, which collected 365 tonnes of soft plastics in 2017. However, a lack of recycling markets led to stockpiling, and some non-conforming plastics were landfilled. The NRRP Taskforce estimated that New Zealand recycled 45,000 tonnes of plastic annually, with 90% being exported.
To effectively tackle the plastic crisis, it is essential to measure and monitor plastic usage and disposal. This data-driven approach enables evidence-informed decisions and resource allocation to improve plastic management. International cooperation is also crucial, as demonstrated by the Basel Convention, which provides guidance for better management of plastic waste and regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
Overall, plastic waste management requires a multifaceted approach involving waste reduction, improved recycling infrastructure, data-driven decision-making, and global collaboration to address this pressing environmental and health issue.
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Types of plastic recycled
New Zealanders consume around 735,000 tonnes of packaging annually, but only 58% of this makes it to the recycling bin. Between January 2018 and March 2021, New Zealand exported over 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste to countries like Thailand and Malaysia. This exported waste is often dumped, burned or "processed" in unregulated ways, resulting in water, soil and air pollution.
The types of plastic recycled in New Zealand include:
- Polypropylene (PP): This is the easiest type of plastic to recycle in New Zealand. However, the demand for recycled PP is higher than the supply, as New Zealanders are not recycling enough of it.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): This type of plastic is cleaned, crushed, shredded, and then reprocessed into a wide variety of products.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): This stiff plastic is washed and melted down, then turned into durable items like picnic tables and decking.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): LDPE can be recycled, but only if it is clean and clear plastic film. As a result, LDPE recycling is often limited to commercial recycling, such as shrink and pallet wrap.
- Expanded Polystyrene (PS): This type of plastic is collected by EXPOL, which has partnered with various hardware stores.
- Type 7 Plastic: This is a blend of other plastics, making it difficult to recycle. However, FuturePost accepts Type 7 plastic and turns it into fence posts.
- Soft Plastics: Plastic bags and food wrap are the most common forms of soft plastics. While soft plastics can be recycled, there are limited collection points in New Zealand.
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Plastic recycling process
While New Zealanders are trying to recycle more, a recent Consumer NZ-led assessment revealed that the country has a low environmental standing. Brazil and New Zealand were the worst countries for practical recycling rates; around 57% of New Zealand's packaging was not recycled. Between 2012 and 2015, around 460 tonnes of plastic were recycled through the public place collection scheme in New Zealand. The Packaging Council of NZ revealed that Kiwis consume around 735,000 tonnes of packaging every year, with only 58% hitting the recycling bin. Between January 2018 and March 2021, New Zealand exported over 98,000 tonnes of plastic waste, mainly to Thailand and Malaysia.
The plastic recycling process is a complex, reverse supply chain that begins when an empty container is tossed in a bin. The process can be broken down into the following steps:
Collection
Collectors from the government or private companies gather all post-consumer materials from homes, schools, and other institutions.
Sorting
Sorting entails grouping plastics into their respective types. Beyond chemical composition, sorting is also done by colour, thickness, and usage. This step can be done manually or by machines at recycling plants.
Washing
Washing is the process of removing all the impurities that may impede the following processes. Product labels, adhesives, and food residue are removed.
Shredding
Shredding is breaking down the sorted and washed plastics into smaller-sized pieces. In this state, they might be used as additives within asphalt or sold as a raw material. Shredding also allows the removal of more impurities like metals.
Melting
The shredded plastic is then melted down and formed into pallets called nurdles.
New Product
After becoming nurdles, the plastic is transformed to take a new shape to make a new product.
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Frequently asked questions
On average, each New Zealander consumes approximately 31 kg of plastic packaging annually, with only 5.58 kg being recycled. This equates to around 18% of consumed plastic packaging being recycled per person. However, the NRRP Taskforce estimated the annual tonnage of recycled plastic in New Zealand to be 45,000 tonnes, of which 90% was exported.
The six main types of plastic are PET (#1), HDPE (#2), PP (#5), PS (#6), LDPE (#4), and mixed plastics. All plastics are technically recyclable, but the infrastructure and ability to sort and process them vary across regions. Soft plastics, in particular, have limited collection points in New Zealand.
Recycled plastic in New Zealand undergoes mechanical recycling, where it is collected, sorted, washed, shredded, melted, and processed into granules ready for remaking into new products. These recycled materials are used to create items such as wheelie bins, outdoor furniture, pipes, plant pots, and more.
Plastic accounts for about 8% of New Zealand's waste by weight, but due to its lightweight nature, it is estimated to occupy up to 20% of landfill space. Plastic also ends up in oceans, causing devastating effects on marine life. Recycling plastic helps conserve energy and reduces the environmental impact of plastic waste.
You can start by reducing your plastic consumption and increasing your reuse of plastic items. When it comes to recycling, ensure you separate different types of plastic and keep them clean, dry, and free from food contamination. Support local initiatives and policies aimed at improving plastic recycling rates in your community.
