Launch aims to make recycling work

A new Campaign was launched to deal with problems in the recycling industry, at a gathering of Waste and Recycling industry experts in Manukau city yesterday

The Campaign for Real Recycling was launched by the Community Recycling Network. It is backed by major industry players the Glass Packaging Forum and Full Circle.

“Some kerbside recycling systems are not fit for purpose, which means recycling is becoming a farce in those places,” said Campaign for Real Recycling spokesperson Sue Coutts.

“Better quality materials are urgently needed by reprocessors. “

Ms Coutts said that collecting all the materials together in one bin and compacting them makes it almost impossible to meet the standards for reprocessing here in New Zealand.

“Different materials get mixed together, glass shards show up in the paper bales, plastic and paper ends up the glass. That means it can’t be used for high quality, energy saving processes like recycling glass bottles back into bottles.” said Ms Coutts

“All the paper and glass used to be recycled into new products in New Zealand, now it is not.”

“Glass recyclers are hunting down empties as far south as Oamaru and Alexandra, because Manukau and Waitakere glass is not coming through to the O-I remelt plant anymore”

Ms Coutts said the campaign would focus on providing evidence to decision makers so they can implement recycling systems that work.

ENDS

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