Recycling will always be part of the ongoing process of eliminating waste and it’s your responsibility to make sure what can be recycled is recycled properly.
Recycling systems are absolutely important but they can only process recyclables that have been rinsed clean – so take a moment to wash that baked beans can or empty shampoo bottle before you pop it in the recycling bin.
When you look at packaging and see a number inside that looks like a recycling symbol, remember – it’s not always recyclable. The code simply indicates the type of plastic. Most plastic can theoretically be recycled, but New Zealand only has facilities to recycle numbers 1 and 2 plastic. Avoid plastics with numbers 3 to 7.
Recycled glass stays in New Zealand and is turned into bottles, jars and road-building material.
Paper and cardboard is made into newsprint, writing paper, tissue, corrugated cardboard, egg cartons and fruit trays, here in New Zealand as well as in Asia.
Aluminium becomes new aerosol and drink cans, and tin is made into food cans, wire and building materials in New Zealand and Asia.
All of our plastic is shipped to Australia and Southeast Asia, requiring fossil fuels to transport it.
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