Recycling
New Zealand Recycling
We throw away a whopping 3.6 tonnes of rubbish each year. Find out how to make your household and workplace green with our guide to recycling, reducing waste and reusing in New Zealand. We outline what you can and can't recycle; and offer information on how you can reduce your home and office waste.
Why recycle?
When our waste is buried or burnt, carbon dioxide and methane is released into the atmosphere. The impact of this is climate change and environmental damage. By re-using resources and materials, we can increase the efficiency of our manufacturing and waste disposal processes. For instance, when aluminium cans are recycled, the mining of bauxite is avoided (one tonne of aluminium requires a massive four tonnes of mined bauxite). So, recycling can save between 70% and 90% of the energy required to produce aluminium cans. Reducing how much we consume in the way of resources, and recycling wherever possible, will help New Zealand become more sustainable and contribute to the control of greenhouse gas emissions. If you're not sure where to begin, get in touch with your local New Zealand recycling centre.
Will recycling really help the environment?
Yes! We can all do our bit; personal responsibility is what recycling is all about. Just some of the many benefits of recycling are:
- Resources are conserved
- Landfill volumes are reduced
- Less energy is required to produce new materials
- New products, materials and opportunities are made available
What exactly can I recycle?
Generally, in urban centres with kerbside recycling, you can recycle:
- Paper and cardboard – this can include general office paper, newspaper, glossy brochures, magazines and non-plastic envelopes. Tie together in bundles or place inside a plastic bag
- Glass – all brown, green, blue, clear or frosted glass jars and bottles can be recycled, but take off all lids and make sure they’re clean
- Plastic – check for the number 1 and 2 recycling codes on water bottles, juice bottles, milk containers and fizzy drink bottles
- Aluminium – cans made from aluminium, steel or tin can be recycled, but make sure they're rinsed clean and squashed flat
- Some centres can recycle plastic bags – place clean plastic bags inside a plastic bag and tie the top closed
You can't recycle:
- Paper or cardboard with a waxy covering
- Polystyrene
- Dangerous waste, such as broken glass, batteries and oil
- Plastic with recycling grade between 3 and 7
For disposal of hazardous waste, such as chemicals, solvents, batteries and explosives, contact your local NZ recycling centre, recycling company or council refuse station to find your nearest hazardous waste drop off centre.
What else can I do to reduce my household environmental impact?
All sectors of our society need to reduce waste and increase recycling in New Zealand. Individuals who take action will, in turn, prompt local and central government to legislate change. Above all, it is important to see recycling as just one aspect of an eco-friendly lifestyle. Try to reduce the amount of rubbish your household produces, by:
1. Recycling everything you can
In many parts of New Zealand, kerbside recycling is a free service provided by local city councils. You can recycle paper, glass and some metals and plastics. If you're unsure what you can and can't recycle, give your local city council a call.
2. Reusing (or giving away) whatever you can
Why not try re-using items or giving them to others who may get some use out of them?
- Old clothes can be given to opportunity shops or community groups
- Glass or plastic jars, bottles and containers can be reused for storage
- Unwanted furniture can be taken to your local secondhand dealer or recycling centre
- Plastic bags can be reused in all sorts of ways around the home (some supermarkets also collect plastic bags for recycling)
3. Shopping environmentally
- Take your own 'green bags' to the supermarket and stop using plastic bags
- Choose products with minimal packaging or packaging which can be recycled
- Buy products that are made from recycled materials
4. Setting up a compost heap
- Compost food scraps and garden waste at home
- Mulch lawn clippings for use in your garden
- If you don't have space for a compost heap, keep garden waste and food scraps separate and take them to your an NZ recycling centre, transfer station or your local community garden
What can I do to recycle at work?
Fifty percent of rubbish in New Zealand landfills is from businesses, retailers and industrial premises. It takes just one person in each workplace to make a difference: if you care about the environment, think about recycling and encouraing others to go green in your workplace:
- Recycle paper, plastic, glass and cardboard
- Reduce the amount of paper you use by sending documents by email instead of printing them, printing drafts on reused paper and printing double-sided documents
- Set up a bin for green waste, such as food scraps (this can be taken to a community garden or recycling centre weekly)
- For tips on how to make your office environmentally friendly, check out the Green Office Guide.
Looking for more information? Find New Zealand recycling in the NZS.com directory.
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Business images from Flickr: Sky Tower, New Zealand Flag and Wellington Buildings.
