Whakatāne District residents can now add plastics graded 5 and empty pizza boxes to the list of things they can recycle in their kerbside collections.
From 1 February, the Ministry for the Environment’s standardising kerbside recycling strategy comes into effect, which requires all councils to collect the same items in kerbside recycling across Aotearoa. This means most New Zealanders will be able to recycle the same things, no matter where they live in the country.
The main changes for this district are that plastics graded 5 and empty pizza boxes are now accepted in the yellow-lid bin. However, aerosol containers will no longer be collected because it is difficult to safely process the pressurised cans. The additions now accompany plastics 1 and 2, cardboard, paper and tins and cans as items that can be recycled via kerbside collections.
Council’s solid waste manager, Nigel Clarke, says plastics graded 5 typically include ice cream and margarine containers and big yoghurt pots (not the small six-pack versions, which are graded 6). This is excellent news for many families who are keen to recycle right.
The main aim of the strategy is to make recycling easy and more effective nationwide – rather than simply throwing materials in the recycling bin and ‘hoping’ they are recyclable.
“Wherever you are in the country, you won’t have to wonder what can and can’t go into kerbside recycling,” says Mr Clarke. “While this change is necessary as part of the national strategy, recycling properly is just the right thing to do.”
“We’d all like more things to be magically recyclable, but it simply doesn’t work that way,” he explains. “What’s commonly described as ‘wishcycling’ just contaminates our recycled items and masks a growing waste problem. You can do your part to recycle right, by buying plastics with a recycling number 1, 2 and 5 on them or look for reusable alternatives to all the plastics you buy.”
Mr Clarke says the best way for residents to identify recyclable plastics is to check the numbers found on the bottom. If it’s not numbered 1, 2 or 5 or has no number, it needs to go in the general waste bin. He also reiterates that all lids should go in the general waste, and recyclables need to be rinsed before going in the yellow-lid bin.
“In New Zealand, plastics 3, 4, 6, and 7 are difficult to recycle and there are limited recycling options for them here or overseas,” Mr Clarke says. “However, we can significantly reduce how much goes to landfill by correctly recycling plastics 1, 2 and 5, and all paper, tins, cans and cardboard – even your empty pizza boxes.”
Read more about what can and can’t be recycled >>
