Many local councils in New Zealand collect household recycling in kerbside collections, but what happens to it next? Here’s a brief run-down of the recycling process and the finished products your recycling is likely to turn into.
The materials that councils collect through kerbside recycling differ from council to council. The most commonly collected recyclables include paper and cardboard, steel and aluminium cans, glass bottles and jars, and some plastic containers. Most councils collect 1 and 2 type plastics, while others collect types 1 to 7. These materials are collected and transported to a recycling plant.
At the recycling plant materials go through several sorting processes. Plastics, paper, metals and glass are sorted into different types. At this point non-recyclable materials that shouldn’t be there are removed from the recyclables.
Once sorted, materials for recycling are baled and prepared for market.
A lot of New Zealand’s recycling is sent overseas for processing, although steel cans, glass, and some plastics and paper are recycled in New Zealand. Where your recyclables go for recycling can depend on where in New Zealand they are collected and sorted.
Some paper and cardboard is recycled locally in New Zealand, but much of it is exported. Here are some examples of the places that our paper is sent for processing:
Plastic is processed in New Zealand, Australia and China. It is recycled into soft drink bottles, pillow and sleeping bag filling, recycling bins, and speed bumps.
Glass is recycled into new glass bottles and jars and can also be used as a sand substitute in road construction. Glass is recycled in New Zealand at the O-I New Zealand recycling plant where it is first sorted into its seven colours (clear, amber, blue, and four shades of green). It’s important that the glass is sorted into colours before it is recycled so that the colour of the recycled product is pure.
Most steel cans are recycled in New Zealand and made into more steel products. Aluminium cans are sent to Australia or Japan for recycling.
When you shop, you can do your bit by purchasing products with content and packaging that is able to be recycled. Reuse or recycle these at the end of their lives. Check with your local council to see what is collected for recycling locally. Aside from kerbside recycling, there are a number of specialised schemes that take back specific products for recycling. Appliances, electronics, mobile phones, paint, printer cartridges, and polystyrene are just a few of the products that are collected through specialised schemes in New Zealand.
You can also look for products that contain recycled content or have recycled packaging when you shop. Recycled paper and tissue products are widely available. You can also look for products with the Environmental Choice logo. While not all Environmental Choice-labeled products are recycled, the label recognises genuine moves made by manufacturers to reduce the environmental impacts of their products and provides a credible and independent guide for consumers who want to purchase products that are better for the environment.
