FAQs

We know New Zealand’s recycling rates are low compared to other countries with better systems, and we have too much litter in our environment. We need to bring our recycling systems up to global standards.

Large amounts of valuable resources are lost to landfill. This results in lost resources and business opportunities. 

We want to minimise waste, improve recycling, and reduce emissions from waste. We are looking to a future where everyone reduces waste, reuses, and recycles.

The system we had become inefficient and expensive, especially when dealing with comingling of glass with other materials.

The waste environment has changed with certain materials not being accepted for recycling. The waste discussion is a lot broader now. As individuals and a community, we need to be aware and responsible for where waste is being disposed.

Times have changed. The Government is calling for a more sustainable approach to how all communities deal with their waste. What we had before wouldn't be acceptable under proposed changes to recycling.

We have known the changes we made in 2020 were temporary. We have known the Government would be coming out with a clear direction on waste. These are now on the table and open for feedback.

The proposed changes are:

• Container return schemes
• Standardising household kerbside collection
• Separation of business food scraps.

Each Council is taking a different approach at the moment, but we all will need to conform to these new national directives.