Plastic fantastic as recycling scheme returns

Soft plastic recycling is returning to the region – with local waste set to be given a new lease of life as fence posts.

Five years after the initiative had to be scrapped, the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRS) is back, with bins already up in collection points across Blenheim.

The move means plastics such as bread bags, bubble wrap, plastic wrappers of products such as biscuits, chips can all be recycled.

All the soft plastic in the region will be collected and baled by JBL Environmental, and processed locally at Future Post’s new Blenheim plant, which is due to open later this month.

The Packaging Forum (operator of the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme - SPRS) CEO Rob Langford says that after five years away, it is an exciting move.

“We have been working on restarting collections in the region for some time, and the upcoming opening of Future Post’s new plant has helped this happen.

“In the past, growth of the Scheme was limited by our onshore processing capacity as we only collect what we can process and recycle.

“Future Post expanding into the South Island has meant an increase in its production capabilities, and therefore we have been able to add more collection points.”

The scheme was first launched in 2015 but was forced to end in December 2018 when offshore plants processing New Zealand's plastic no longer wanted it.

It’s return means members and partners will work collectively in what Rob says is a “…brilliant example of a local circular economy in action.”

“All of Blenheim’s soft plastic will be collected and processed locally, and then recycled into fence posts which will more than likely end up on local farms and vineyards and the posts themselves are 100 per cent recyclable if they need to be replaced.”

With Blenheim joining the soft plastic collection service, an estimated 80 per cent of New Zealanders now have access to soft plastic recycling.

Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor says the reintroduction of soft plastic recycling in the Marlborough District is exciting, and more so because the plastic collected will be recycled locally.

“It’s great to see the soft plastic recycling bins back in stores across the district, and even better that the plastic collected here will be processed, and recycled into other products, right here in Blenheim – an excellent example of our local businesses working together to reduce our collective impact on the environment.”

The distinctive recycling bins can be found at five locations– Countdown Blenheim, Countdown Redwoodtown, The Warehouse Blenheim and New World Blenheim, as well as the Marlborough Hazardous Waste Centre.