New Waikato recycling initiative encourages people to Collect, Drop and Recycle their soft plastic packaging when they go shopping

Following the successful implementation of its Love NZ soft plastic packaging recycling programme in Auckland, the Packaging Forum today extended the service to the Waikato region. Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker joined representatives from industry and shoppers at Countdown East Hamilton to be amongst the first to Drop and Recycle soft plastic packaging.

Sixteen Countdown, New World, PAK’nSAVE and The Warehouse stores across Hamilton; 3 Cambridge stores; Countdown Huntly and New World Ngāruawāhia now provide drop off recycling bins for their customers adding to the 70 Auckland outlets which have been providing the service since November.

Lyn Mayes, Project Manager says: “Soft plastic packaging was destined for Waikato landfills until now. In the first week shoppers have already dropped off over 22,000 items of soft plastic packaging for collection by Abilities. On a store by store basis, that’s similar to the Auckland launch week which saw volumes tripling within 12 weeks.

“We know people quickly get used to Collecting soft plastic packaging and Dropping it off at their nearest store so we can Recycle it into new products such as the seat made from 15,000 plastic bags presented today to students at Peachgrove Intermediate School. At first people think about plastic shopping bags but once they start collecting their food and grocery packaging and even courier envelopes, they realize how much less is going in the rubbish bin. We forecast around 8 million items of soft plastic packaging will be recycled every year through the stores in the region once people have got used to the process.

“New signage has been introduced to help reduce contamination in the bins and REDcycle which runs the programme has advised on the best locations in store to optimize usage. We’ve just launched a Facebook page so encourage people to tell us what they like and make suggestions – you can link to us on http://www.recycling.kiwi.nz/soft-plastics”

Andrew Hewett, Chair of The Packaging Forum says: “Since November over 14 tonnes of soft plastic packaging has been diverted from landfill. To put that in perspective its over 2.5 Million units of bread bags, confectionery wrap, frozen food bags, toilet paper packaging, pasta and rice bags, courier packs and single use shopping bags.”

“Whilst we have a proven market for the materials at Replas Melbourne, trials are underway at Astron Plastics in Auckland and the extruded pellets are being tested in the manufacture of the top and base of the Soft Plastic Recycling Bins. Our aim is to help grow end markets in New Zealand for soft plastics just as for other packaging such as glass, PET and paper.

“In addition to funding from The Packaging Forum and the participating retailers, this programme is supported by an ever increasing number of New Zealand Brands including Asaleo Care, Cottonsoft, Goodman Fielder, Kelloggs, Kimberly-Clark, Mars, Mondelez, Mother Earth, Nestle, NZ Post, Pams, Pure Delish, Simplot, Sunrice, Wrigley, Amcor, Astron, Elldex and Replas and we are delighted to welcome Hamilton City Council as the first local authority to become a supporter of the programme.”

The programme has received $700,000 from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund to match funding by industry. The service will roll out Canterbury in June and in Greater Wellington in September with expansion to Otago, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu planned in 2017.

National Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager Affairs James Walker, says: "Countdown is pleased to host the launch of the soft plastics recycling programme at our Countdown Claudelands store. All Countdown stores in Hamilton are now involved in the programme, and we are looking forward to our Hamilton customers getting involved. The success of this programme is driven by the fact that industry is cooperating to provide customers an easy way to return their soft plastics for recycling.”

ENDS

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