Press Release: Plastics industry targets hard-to-recycle plastic waste streams
Plastics New Zealand in collaboration with industry has released two reports outlining strategies for addressing New Zealand’s construction and packaging plastic waste crisis.
Over 5,000 tonnes of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) packaging enters New Zealand’s supply chains every year, yet nearly 77% currently ends up in landfills or as environmental pollution due to limited collection and recycling systems. Meanwhile, Auckland alone sends approximately 25,000 tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) plastics to landfill annually. Two comprehensive reports have been developed outlining strategies aimed at dramatically improving how these problematic plastics are managed across the country.
“Plastics are essential to modern life – offering durability, efficiency, and performance in applications ranging from construction materials to medical packaging. These reports focus on ensuring those benefits are realised without compromising our environment,” says Rachel Barker, CEO of Plastics New Zealand.
“Our landfills are rapidly filling with plastic waste from construction and EPS packaging – these reports offer tangible solutions that can significantly change the status quo."
The Construction & Demolition Plastics Report highlights specific strategies for managing the three largest plastic waste streams from construction sites: soft plastics, PVC/HDPE, and EPS. It emphasises the need for improved on-site practices, targeted recycling infrastructure, and clear accountability measures to reduce waste significantly.
The EPS Product Stewardship Report identifies viable pathways for recovering EPS packaging used in consumer goods, medical, and seafood sectors. It advocates for a robust, industry-led national stewardship scheme, highlighting opportunities for both regional and trans-Tasman recycling solutions.
“These reports aren’t theoretical—they’re practical roadmaps developed with input from across the industry, including manufacturers, recyclers, local government, and environmental experts,” Barker explains. “Now we need stakeholders from every sector to step forward and join us in turning these strategies into action.”
Both reports and detailed recommendations are now available online at https://www.plastics.org.nz/news-events/news/1063-press-release-two-major-reportsreleased
ENDS
Media Contact:
Rachel Barker, CEO
Plastics New Zealand
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 022 0812 936 (please text rather than leaving voice message)
Plastics NZ is the trade organisation representing the New Zealand plastics industry. Our membership comprises over 200 businesses including manufacturers, raw material suppliers, recyclers (reprocessors), brand-owners, and consultants to the industry. Plastics NZ has a strong focus on environmentally responsible management of plastics and actively drives towards circularity for plastics in Aotearoa. This includes running education programmes, assisting companies to plan their journey to circularity, and facilitating national working groups focused on specific waste streams.
Additional Information
- The two reports are the culmination of work carried out under Plastics NZ’s circulareconomy initiative. Working Groups were formed to identify opportunities andchallenges in facilitating national solutions for target plastic waste streams – namelyConstruction & Demolition Plastics, and EPS Packaging. This programme is supportedby the Waste Minimisation Fund, which is administered by the Ministry for theEnvironment. The Ministry for the Environment does not necessarily endorse orsupport the content of the publication in any way.
- Stakeholders were drawn from across the full value chain for both pieces of work –from plastics manufacturers and distributors, right through to end-of-life processorsand recyclers.