Soft Plastics Recycling initiative expands to more areas

CANBERRA (Scrap Monster): Following the unprecedented success of the Love NZ soft plastic packaging recycling programme in Auckland, the Packaging Forum has extended the service to the Waikato region. The launching ceremony was attended amongst others by Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker, industry representatives and shoppers. It must be noted that 70 Auckland outlets have been providing recycling services to Auckland consumers since November last year.

As part of the programme, special collection bins named ‘Love NZ Soft Plastics Recycling bins’ have been installed at Sixteen Countdown, New World, PAK’nSAVE and The Warehouse stores across Hamilton; 3 Cambridge stores; Countdown Huntly and New World Ngāruawāhia.

According to the Packaging Forum, the initiative is the first-of-its-kind recycling program for soft plastics. The program has been launched in partnership with the government and country’s retail and packaging sector.

Soft Plastics Recycling Programme is the first national recycling programme that promotes recycling of soft plastics. The bins accept not only normal shopping bags but also other soft plastics such as bread bags, frozen food bags, toilet paper packaging, confectionary and biscuit wrap, chip bags, pasta and rice bags, courier envelopes, sanitary hygiene wrap and almost anything made of plastic that could be squeezed into a ball.

The plastic bags collected from the special collection bins across the participating store locations will be processed, baled and transported to Melbourne, Australia where they will be reused and transformed into new products such as outdoor furniture.