From 1 February this year, materials collected from households for recycling will be standardised across New Zealand.

Waitomo District Council has joined many other councils throughout the country in introducing a more standardised recycling collection system.

The initiative has been led and driven by the Ministry for the Environment.

General Manager Infrastructure Services, Shyamal Ram says collecting the same materials in kerbside recycling services will make it easier for everyone to put items in the right bin no matter where they are in New Zealand.

“The changes will also help our council and recycling facilities by improving the quality of the materials they receive, so they can recycle more.

“It will also help businesses to design and manufacture packaging they know can be recycled from anywhere in the country.”

As part of the new standardisation, type 5 plastic can now also be recycled, with WDC accepting plastics type 1,2 and 5.

“Recycling is a win-win for all as not only does it reduce the amount of household waste going into your rubbish bin, it reduces unnecessary waste going to our landfill,” says Shyamal.

“And as recycling is free, it means you may not have to purchase as many official refuse bags as normal. It doesn’t take that much effort to prepare recyclable items for collection, and our district and the environment will be all the better for it.”

Plastics type 3, 4, 6 and 7 are not accepted for recycling.