The Government has announced that it is to trial a new recycling service aimed at plastic shopping bags.
Plastic bags are currently not accepted in kerbside collections because they cannot be recycled in New Zealand.
This means that many soft plastic can not be recycled in New Zealand and ends up in landfill.
The Government will spend $1.2 million on the trial, which will initially involve establishing a new facility in Auckland that will have the capacity to handle soft plastics.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said this approach had proved successful in Australia.
“New Zealanders have made a great transition over the last 20 years with the kerbside recycling services – that enables us to recycle the hard plastics – but we know want to tackle the other problems, like plastic bags and bread bags that just end up in a landfill,” he said.
The Warehouse, Pak ‘n’ Save, Countdown and New World stores throughout Auckland are taking part in the trial.
The supermarket chains will set up recycling bins outside their stores.
One Response
1.2 million dollars thats so much money to spend!