Official Information Request - Recycling
Sent: Wednesday, 14 July 2021 9:19 am
Subject: LGOIMA - recycling
I refer to your Official Information request of 21 June 2021 regarding recycling collection for the last 5 years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 to date), and respond below as per your email:
How much recycling has been collected by your council per year in tonnes?
Total Collected Tonnes
2017 | 4,903 |
2018 | 5,095 |
2019 | 5,965 |
2020 | 5,047 |
2021 (Jan to Apr) | 1,778 |
Of the recycling collected how much has been sent to landfill per year in tonnes? If possible, please include the reason why (ie recycling contamination).
The following is % of collected tonnes sent to landfill due to contamination.
2017 | 8% |
2018 | 9% |
2019 | 10% |
2020 | 11% |
2021 | 12% |
This is primarily due to recycling contamination, which has increased in the last three years. Certain types of plastics, which were being recycled earlier, are now not recyclable and have been reclassified as waste which has caused some confusion. There has also been a post Covid (level 4 lockdown) increase in waste going into the recycling bin.
Of the recycling collected how much has been recycled domestically per year within New Zealand in tones?
Period | % of Recyclable Material Dealt with Locally | % of Recyclable Material Dealt with Overseas |
2017 | 89% | 11% |
2018 | 71% | 29% |
2019 | 66% | 34% |
2020 | 78% | 22% |
2021 | 77% | 23% |
New Zealand producers have exacting standards for recycling. When the material is processed, it is done so on the basis that it will be used in New Zealand. Sometimes the local market has no capacity or prices are better overseas and it is exported. This is not "dumping" as the product is of high quality and value.
Of the recycling collected how much has been sent overseas to be recycled per year in tones? (please include the country sent to).
See above. When the product is exported overseas it goes to a range of buyers in countries such as Australia, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, India.
Please include a brief outline of which items your council can and cannot recycle? (particularly around the types of plastics).
Rotorua recycles the following via kerbside collection:
- Plastics type 1, 2, 5.
- Soft mixed paper such as news papers.
- Cardboard
- Aluminium and Tin containers such as (beverage cans and food containers).
Please refer to the council website for more details - https://www.rotorualakescouncil.nz/our-services/rubbish-and-recycling
Regards
Craig Tiriana |
