Recycling what we can
What can be recycled in Rotorua?
Items which can be collected for recycling via our kerbside bins, recycling centre and transfer stations are:
| Paper | Newspaper, magazines, envelopes, junk mail, used note paper, recycled paper, clean paper packaging and bags |
| Cardboard | Cardboard boxes and packaging, egg cartons, clean parts of a pizza box |
| Plastics #1 | Labelled with a triangle and number 1, for example clear food packaging and bottles |
| Plastics #2 | Labelled with a triangle and number 2, for example cleaning bottles, product bottles |
| Plastics #5 | Labelled with a triangle and number 5, for example ice cream containers, larger yoghurt tubs, margarine containers, other plastic tubs and containers |
| Aluminium and tin cans | Clean food and drink cans |
| Glass jars and bottles | Clean food and drink containers |
There are some other items which are being collected for recycling outside of Council collection services.
Check the label
It is important to check package labelling carefully when identifying whether an item can be recycled. Many people will recognise the recycling triangle symbol – this is quite thick and does not have a number inside. A common misconception is that this symbol means that an item is made from recycled materials or can definitely be recycled. It is important to know that this is an international symbol indicating only that an item may be recyclable but that it depends on the processes and markets available to different countries and areas.
For plastics specifically, the triangle symbol will be thinner and have a number in the middle. This tells you what type of plastic the material is.
How should our recyclables be prepared?
Paper and cardboard | - Empty cardboard boxes and flatten them down - Remove excess tape, staples – it’s fine to leave some of these things on - Remove any food residue from food packaging – if oil or sauce has soaked into the cardboard it will need to go into the red lid bin - Remove any decorative items for example, pompoms, art and craft materials - Avoid ripping into small pieces as these will likely blow away during transport and processing and won’t be recycled |
Plastics | - Make sure all food and product has been removed - Wash to remove any remaining traces - Remove any lids - Smaller lids, for example bottle lids, need to go into the red lid bin |
Aluminium and tin cans | - Make sure all food and product has been removed - Wash to remove any remaining traces |
Glass jars and bottles | - Make sure all food and product has been removed - Wash to remove any remaining traces - Remove any lids and place these into red lid bin |
If you have any questions or would like support with your recycling, get in touch recycling@rotorualc.nz.
What happens to our recyclables once they leave our home?
- Recyclables are collected from our kerbside bins and taken by truck to our local Recycling Centre on Te Ngae Road. This site is open to the public and recyclables can also be dropped off directly to the site.
- Piles of recycling are sifted through and things that shouldn’t be in there (contamination) removed wherever possible. If contamination in a sorting pile is too much and not able to be removed, the pile may have to be sent to landfill. Badly damaged or really dirty recyclables can’t be accepted for final processing because no one will want to buy it – it won’t be good quality for reuse.
- Recyclables are baled up for transporting and sent to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Kopu. This site is managed by Smart Environmental.
- Bales are again checked for contamination, and this is removed for landfill wherever possible.
- Materials are sorted into type and squashed into big tight bales.
- Bales are sold to buyers – who will process and use the materials to make new things.
What this all looks like at the MRF in Kopu
What do these materials get made into?
The following are just some examples of what these materials can be made into:
Paper and cardboard | More paper & cardboard |
Plastics # 1 | Soft drink bottles, polyester fibres (eg carpets, fleece garments, stuffing for jackets/pillows/sleeping bags, tennis ball felt), thermoformed sheet, strapping, bean bags, storage containers, rope, car bumpers, combs, boat sails, furniture |
Plastics # 2 | Bottles, recycling bins, agricultural pipe, base cups, car stops, playground equipment, plastic lumber, toys |
Plastics # 5 | Autoparts, industrial fibres, shipping pallets, brooms, shovels, watering cans, mixing bowls, cutting boards, ice scrapers, storage bins |
Steel cans | Any steel product |
Aluminium cans | More aluminium cans, plane parts, car parts, fences, baseball bats, furniture |
Glass containers | More glass containers, fibreglass insulation, aggregate and glasphalt |
As much as possible, recycling is sold and processed within New Zealand. Here is one example:
What is contamination and why do we need to prevent it?
Recycling contamination refers to:
- Any items which are not on the list above of ‘what can be recycled’
- Any items (including recyclables) which are very dirty or still have food or product in them
- Recyclable items which have been put into the wrong bin, for example a glass container which has been put into the yellow-lid bin.
Contamination can damage or dirty recyclable items and prevent them from being able to be sold and re-used. The huge volume of items our recycling services receive every day mean it’s just not possible for processing staff to pick things out and wash them manually, particularly when material has been caked in over a period of days or weeks! Damaged or soiled items also create safety risks for processing staff and equipment.
Some of the most common contamination items found in our recycling collections include:
- Dirty items – recyclable items with food or liquid still in them, oily paper or cardboard, used nappies
- Soft plastics – cling film, plastic bags, bubble wrap, zip lock bags, foil chip packets
- Single use coffee and drink cups – these can look like cardboard but usually have a plastic lining
- Liquid paperboard (e.g. Tetra Pak) – long-life milk, almond milk or liquid stock packaging
- Polystyrene – appliance packaging, packaging ‘peanuts’, takeaway containers
Reducing the level of contamination in recycling streams is very important in lowering the cost of recycling for everyone and maximising the amount of recyclables that can be turned into new items.
Why can't we recycle other plastics?
Plastics numbered 3, 4, 6 and 7 are not currently able to be recycled via our kerbside collections as these plastics are difficult to recycle and low in value. New Zealand does not have the required infrastructure to process large volumes of these onshore and there are limited opportunities in offshore markets. Other countries produce and use more of these plastic types and already saturate what has become a limited and controlled market for trade and recycling of these materials.
Many product and packaging companies are moving toward using plastics 1, 2 and 5 because of their higher recyclability and value. You can help support this change by buying fewer products made from hard to recycle plastics. Avoidance is the always the most effective way to minimise waste. Avoid having the plastic in the first place, as often as you can, as this means you do not have to dispose of it once you have finished using it. If you are not able to avoid it, using the item less is another way to ensure you are throwing less of it away.
There are some material programmes separate to Council collections which can collect and recycle amounts of these materials, for example, Soft Plastic Recycling. Check these out online to find out more.
Resources and information
Rotorua Lakes Council can provide presentations or workshops to support groups and individuals in understanding recycling information and processes. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch recycling@rotorualc.nz.
