NZ Recycling Statistics

Minimising plastic waste

  • At least 50% of plastic packaging sent to New Zealand landfills is imported (Pac NZ, 2002).
  • In-house recycling of plastic by manufacturers, where off cuts and production waste is reground and reused in the same or similar products; ensured 17,725 tonnes of plastics were reused in 2010 by the NZ plastics industry (PNZ Mass Balance Survey 2010).
  • Plastic waste from manufacture in New Zealand makes up only 1% of material used (PNZ, 2010).


Recycling

  • Each New Zealander consumes approximately 36 kg of plastic packaging per year and recycles 8.64kg (Packaging Accord).
  • 97% of New Zealanders have access to household or community recycling (MfE).
  • Plastic recycling has more than doubled over the last 5 years (Packaging Accord).
  • In 2005 New Zealanders recycled 39,100 tonnes of plastic (Environment NZ 2007 report).
  • 25-30% of PET (1) and HDPE (2) packaging produced in NZ are recovered (PNZ, 2002).
  • Our plastic packaging recycling rate (24%) compares with a European average of 26%1

1http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/waste/documents/Packaging_2009_11_26_publication.xls



2007 plastic packaging recycling and energy recovery rates in Europe compared with New Zealand (Source: adapted from Eurostat data, 2009)

 

Waste

  • Plastic makes up 8% of New Zealand's waste stream by weight (MfE, 2009).
  • Because plastics are lighter than many materials, by volume we estimate they may use up to 20% of landfill space.
  • Approx 252,000 tonnes of plastic waste is disposed of to New Zealand landfills each year (Based on 8% of 3.156 million tonnes of waste to landfill). Much of this is Packaging from Imported Goods.