Plastic or metal caps and lids can now be dropped to any regional transfer station and the Dump Shop at Wither Road in Blenheim for recycling – but please sort them first.

These cannot go in recycling bins as part of the kerbside service in Marlborough, but Council has found a local solution with its contractor JBL Environmental. Blenheim-based Future Post will recycle the plastic lids into fence and vineyard posts and garden frames for households while metal lids will be recycled by local scrap dealers.

Council’s Solid Waste Manager Mark Lucas said kerbside recycling legislation required the removal of lids and while a national recycling scheme for the collection of these existed, it focussed on New Zealand’s larger centres due to volumes.

“We decided to do nothing was not an option and it’s great to be able to offer Marlburians a place to drop their caps and lids with the knowledge that these will not go to landfill,” Mr Lucas said.

Collection points are ready at the Picton, Havelock, Rai Valley, Seddon and Wairau Valley transfer stations and at the Dump Shop in Blenheim. The caps and lids must be separated into metal and plastic before going in the bins provided.

“A big shout out to Havelock who have already sorted a cubic metre of plastic lids. That’s a fantastic effort by that community,” Mr Lucas said.

This latest Council initiative adds to the growing number of items that can be recycled in Marlborough.

Mr Lucas said food and beverage cartons (also known as Tetra Pak®) could now be recycled and were being made into building boards.

“The Recycling Centre and all our transfer stations are collection points for these containers for recycling and removal from our landfill. Traditionally around 30 tonnes of this product have been sent to the landfill in Marlborough every year, so this is another good step forward,” he said.

Soft plastics are in Council’s sights next with details on a local recycling option for these expected to be announced soon.

“This will include anything made of soft plastic which can be scrunched into a ball such as bread bags, frozen food bags, biscuit wrappers and courier envelopes,” Mr Lucas said.

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