In Australia the collection of soft plastics has been stopped after reports the plastics are being stockpiled. Photo: 123rf
A company making use of recycled soft plastics in New Zealand says this country is not facing the problems emerging in Australia, where collection has been suspended.
In Australia the collection of soft plastics has been stopped after reports the plastics were being stockpiled due to a lack of other options.
In New Zealand Future Post collects recycled soft plastics to turn them into fence posts.
Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick said the system here is working well, and expanding further.
His company is building factories in Blenheim and Feilding, and both will need more plastics from the scheme.
Wenzlick said in recent days he has been approached by Australian recyclers seeking help on what to do with stockpiles of soft plastics.
He said the big advantage with his system was that the plastics don't have to be pristine.
"The whole way we do it over here and our machinery and our systems is absolutely unique in the world, which means we can use all this plastic which is troublesome otherwise. We certainly haven't had much help from the powers that be."
He said his company is profitable, and has to be because they have had little or no help from the government and councils.