More councils collecting glass separate from other materials

Press Release

Glass industry reports positive shift with more councils collecting glass separate from other packaging materials

14 October 2016

The Packaging Forum reports that an increasing number of councils around New Zealand are introducing separate glass collections to improve the quality of the recovered glass containers.

John Webber, Manager of The Packaging Forum’s Glass Packaging Scheme says he is delighted that more and more councils are looking at ways to increase the recovery of glass and its quality:

“Separating glass from other recyclables is recognized by recyclers in New Zealand and internationally as being the optimum way to increase the quality of the collected glass containers. Where glass is commingled with other packaging materials, a significant amount of glass is lost through the compacting process. When households separate glass containers either at kerbside or by taking them to a community drop off facility, more glass can be sent back to O-I New Zealand which is New Zealand’s only domestic manufacturer of glass containers. This in turn means that new glass bottles contain a greater percentage of recycled glass which is of vital importance to the sustainability of wine industry exports.”

“Following the recent launch of glass separate kerbside collections in Taranaki and the introduction of glass only public place recycling bins in Rotorua, it is a major step forward for the glass recycling industry that Whakatane District Council commenced a glass separate kerbside collection system last week and Nelson District Council will commence their new glass recycling service next week. Rotorua Lakes will also be introducing a glass only kerbside collection in addition to the new public place recycling facilities.

“Over 1/3rd councils now offer glass separate recycling collections and we will be approaching newly elected Mayors and Councillors to explain the economic and environmental benefits of changing the way they collect glass for recycling and how industry can support this. In the past year we have invested in new best practice glass recovery systems in Rotorua Lakes, Marlborough; New Plymouth, South Taranaki, Ashburton and Hastings.”

Webber added that voluntary product stewardship provides a value for money solution to increasing packaging recycling rates:

“We believe that our voluntary product stewardship schemes provide a best cost solution to increase recycling rates. The glass recycling rate in New Zealand is already at 73% having benefited from a decade of voluntary product stewardship however recovery rates will increase further if councils keep glass separate from other recyclables.”

The Packaging Forum encourages Councils and Community groups to apply for funding by downloading the application on http://www.recycling.kiwi.nz/

ENDS

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