Hutt City stops recycling type three to seven plastics

Hutt City Council is joining the growing number of councils no longer accepting type three to seven plastics for recycling.

Gisborne, Horowhenua and Far North District Councils are among other councils that have also made this decision.

Type three to seven plastics include food wraps, yoghurt containers, produce bags and other soft plastics.

As well as kerbside collections, five recycling stations across Lower Hutt will be affected by the change.

The transition will take place over the next couple of months and the council will issue advise on reducing waste.

Council manager sustainability and resilience Jörn Scherzer said they wanted to give residents early notice of the changes.

"Many other countries which have traditionally taken our plastic recycling are pulling out of these markets," he said.

Type one and two plastics, such as juice and cleaning product bottles, will continue to be collected by Hutt City Council. These are recycled by Lower Hutt's Flight Plastics and are processed into containers for produce, such as kiwifruit.

Plastic milk bottles and detergent containers, which are classified as HDPE 2, are sent to Palmerston North, where they are turned into pallets, ending up as wheelie bins and other products.

Mr Scherzer said the community is yet to come up with alternative uses for type three to seven plastics.

Plastics accepted:

• Type 1 - soft drink, water and juice bottles
• Type 2 - Milk bottles, juice containers, shampoo and cleaning product bottles

Plastic-containing products that will no longer be recycled:

• Type 3 - biscuit trays, clear food wraps and packaging, blister packs and toys
• Type 4 - bread and produce bags, other soft plastics
• Type 5 - containers for yoghurt, soft cheese, deli foods and take away meals
• Type 6 - disposable styrofoam cups and plates, some meat trays and take away containers
• Type 7 - other plastics or combined materials such as Tetra Pak and milk cartons, foil packaging.