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

Executive Summary
The purpose of this project was to conduct a preliminary investigation into sustainable end-of-life
options for plastics recovered in New Zealand, to help support and encourage the achievement of the
New Zealand Packaging Accord plastics sector recycling target.
The project was specifically developed to gain a better understanding of what happens to plastics at
the end-of-life (EoL) stage; to then be able to determine feasible, sustainable solutions for increasing
the recovery of packaging and other plastics.
Statistical analysis of plastic material in New Zealand in 2004 showed:
• 262,904 tonnes of virgin resin and reel/sheet stock were imported for manufacture in NZ.
• 35,442 tonnes were collected for recovery, of which 79% (28,004 tonnes) was packaging.
• The Plastics Sector is on track to meet the Packaging Accord recovery target of 23% (by weight
as a percentage of consumption) by 2008.
• Current plastic material recycling rates in NZ match international best practice.
• The majority of products collected were film [predominantly LDPE], and beverage (soft drink, juice
and milk) bottles [HDPE and PET].
An assessment of the current national infrastructure for recycling and alternative end-of-life options
revealed:
Recycling
• The majority of plastic (18,082t), was recovered from post-consumer industrial sources followed by
post-consumer domestic (12,873t), and then pre-consumer industrial sources (4,487t).
• Most of the NZ population (96.8%) had access to recycling.
• There are over 38 commercial recyclers operating in NZ.
• Kerbside or drop-off recycling services were provided across 59 of the 74 council districts in 2004.
• 55% of the recovered material was exported (mainly to Asia).
• The majority of recovered material was baled in its original form and exported.
• HDPE and PP are processed onshore, most PET is exported.
• The end-market price for non-coloured plastic was greater than for coloured plastic.
Alternative End-of-Life Options
• Material recycling will continue to be the primary end-of-life option for plastics, followed by energy
recovery for non-recyclable materials (such as contaminated food packaging); and composting (for
100% degradable material) as a separate option.
• Degradable plastics are becoming more common in NZ, and the level of degradability of plastic
products needs to be measured, standardised and communicated through labelling systems.
• There need to be robust systems in place to prevent potential contamination between plastic
recycling and composting streams.
Executive Summary
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