LOOK BEFORE YOU WASTE
LOOK BEFORE YOU WASTE
Recycling is easy, but are you confident?
When we recycle, we’re getting it right 85% of the time. Help us reach 100% by knowing what to throw and keep New Zealand clean with three easy steps:
Look for 1, 2, 5
- Check plastic items for these symbols
- These can be found near the base, back or on the bottom of items
- Plastic items without these symbols cannot be recycled
Prepare
- Prepare items by rinsing excess food from containers, removing lids, flattening cardboard, and removing lids and sleeves
Recycle
- Place items loose in the recycling bin
- Avoid putting recycling into a bag or box before disposing
Follow these simple steps to improve your recycling habits and remember, whenever you are unsure – look for 1, 2 or 5
Remember there’s no recycling fairy
We all have a huge role to play
Real people handle your dirty recycling, and no one is going to check that you are recycling properly.
It depends on you; therefore, we all depend on each other to make sure recycling works.
What happens to items recycled incorrectly?
New Zealand exports much of its recycling. If any of it is contaminated, it cannot be used and will end up in landfill here or overseas, where it is either burned or dumped.
Common items that shouldn’t be recycled
Most of us are doing a great job of recycling, but here are the top things we should not recycle across any New Zealand council:
- Paper cups
- Plastic cutlery
- Tissues
- Till receipts
- Juice cartons
- Coffee cups and lids
- Compostable bottles
- Compostable packaging and cups
Common items that should be recycled, but aren’t:
Wherever you are in New Zealand, there are six things every council recycles.
Always recycle:
- Soft drink bottles
- Glass bottles
- Milk bottles
- Aluminium cans
- Glass jars
- Tin cans
Don’t let good recyclables go to landfill. Be confident when it comes to recycling.
Look Before You Waste!
Find out why we can’t recycle some plastics in NZ