Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand

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Overall, 55% (18,620t) of recovered plastic material was exported. Of the total 33,854t, 45% (5,234t) was recovered and on-sold within NZ (this was material with identification codes to , excluding ‘Other’). Figure 19: Breakdown of end markets for recovered NZ plastic in 2004 (Source: PNZ Recycling Survey, 2005) 3.3.2 International Export Markets Export was the predominant end market for recovered end-of-life plastic materials. Most of the exported material went to Asia. China had the largest market for recovered material for use in applications such as manufacturing textiles, video cassettes and toys. Another area of demand was for recovered PVC material to use in shoe manufacturing. Country China India Pakistan Malaysia Turkey Vietnam Common Desired Recovered Materials Table 4: Examples of countries that desire recovered materials 27 Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand
3.3.3 Forms of End-Market Material The form of end-market recovered plastic material varied, depending on the national or international demand. The main plastic end-market material forms 23 were: • baled • flaked • granulated •ground • pelletised, or • in another form. Non-coloured plastic has a higher value and therefore is kept separate from coloured material. The reason for this is that it is too expensive and difficult to remove its colour, and cheaper/easier to add more; therefore more colour (mainly black pigment) is added to plastic when it is recycled. As a result, most exported material was separated into coloured and mixed coloured material before being baled. Types of bales were commonly categorized as PET soft drink bottles, HDPE milk bottles and HDPE janitorial grade. There was only one known commercial recycling company that washed recovered material before exporting. 3.3.4 Prices for End-Market Material As of July 2005, prices for PET and HDPE end-market material 24 , (i.e. material purchased from commercial recycling companies for export,) were as follows: • baled non-coloured PET had an end market commercial price of $500-550/t • baled coloured PET was $350/t • flaked PET was sought for $550-600/t • HDPE baled milk bottles were priced at $400-450/t • pelletised HDPE was $600/t, and • janitorial-grade HDPE fetched $250/t. Prices for other materials such as LDPE and PVC were not specified. 3.4 Key Points • The majority of plastic was recovered from post-consumer industrial, followed by post-consumer domestic, and pre-consumer industrial sources. • Most of the NZ population had access to recycling in 2004. • There are over 38 commercial recyclers operating in NZ. • 59 of the 74 councils funded recycling schemes in their regions in 2004 • Recovered material was mainly exported (to Asia) due to limited onshore NZ recycling facilities and the availability of labour. • The majority of recovered material was baled in its original form and exported. • The end-market price for non-coloured plastic was greater than for coloured plastic; similarly the price for flaked and pelletised material was greater than for baled products. • More information is needed on the source and quantity of material not being recovered. 23. Refer to Appendix 2.8 for definitions of the listed material forms 24. Source: Undisclosed commercial recycler Current NZ Infrastructure for Recovery and End Markets 28
Page 1 and 2: Research Project Report Sustainable
Page 3 and 4: Executive Summary The purpose of th
Page 5 and 6: Acknowledgements Special thanks are
Page 7 and 8: 4.2.5 Measure of Degradability ....
Page 9 and 10: Introduction In 2003 the New Zealan
Page 11 and 12: Results 1. Plastic Material in NZ 1
Page 13 and 14: From the 2005 PNZ Mass Balance Surv
Page 15 and 16: 2. Statistical Analysis of Plastic
Page 17 and 18: 2.3 Breakdown of Recovered Plastic
Page 19 and 20: 2.5 Breakdown of Colours and Produc
Page 21 and 22: 2.5.4 PVC Approximately 2,412t of P
Page 23 and 24: 3. Assessment of the Current NZ Inf
Page 25 and 26: Figure 16: Implementation of kerbsi
Page 27: Figure 18: Other material recovered
Page 31 and 32: 4.2.4 Cons • The cost of deriving
Page 33 and 34: 4.2.8 Viability of Composting Plast
Page 35 and 36: Strict regulations have been set in
Page 37 and 38: 5. Factors Influencing Recovery 5.1
Page 39 and 40: Commercial recyclers operating unde
Page 41 and 42: 5.9 Key Points Voluntary industry a
Page 43 and 44: Recommendations R.1 Improve Informa
Page 45 and 46: Appendices Appendix 1: Supplementar
Page 47 and 48: Appendix 2.8 Forms of Plastic End-M

Sustainable End-of-Life Options for Plastics in New Zealand

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