Changes to mixed recycling collections - Manawatu-Whanganui

You may be aware there have recently been significant changes in the global recycling market, and there is no longer a demand for plastics grades 3, 4, 6 & 7.

Due to these changes, our recycle partners can no longer accept plastics grades 3, 4, 6 & 7 for recycling.

It means that effective 1 June, Waste Management will only be accepting plastic grades 1, 2, & 5 in Whanganui and Palmerston North as described below:

PET (Plastic grade 1)
For example, soft drink & water bottles, hard plastic containers that hold spreads, fruit & vege punnets.

HDPE (Plastic grade 2)
For example, milk bottles, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, cleaning bottles.

PP (Plastic grade 5)
For example, some takeaway containers, plastic cutlery, ice cream & large yoghurt containers

NOTE: If you have other recycling services with us, there will be no changes to these services.

What do you need to do?

Effective 1 June 2021 we will not be collecting plastics grades 3, 4, 6, 7 and soft plastics.

Contamination of your recycling by including these products will result in contamination of the whole truckload. For this reason, if your recycling is contaminated, we may put a sticker on it advising that it needs to be sorted before we can collect it. If you are unsure which plastic is grade 1, 2 or 5, look for the recycling symbol. If you cannot see it, please don’t put the plastic in your mixed recycling.

A key part of successful and cost-effective waste management and minimisation is sensible procurement of products and packaging and education of staff. If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact your sales representative for assistance or use the send us a message form.

We recognise this may have an impact on you, however these changes will ensure we can continue to provide a safe and environmentally sustainable recycling service into the future.