Phasing out hard-to-recycle plastics
Plastic is one of our greatest environmental challenges. It regularly ends up as waste in our landfills, our moana and whenua. Difficult to recycle packaging and products can interfere with our recycling systems and are often used only once before being disposed.
From 1 October 2022 it will be illegal to provide, sell or manufacture certain hard-to-recycle and single use plastic products in Aotearoa New Zealand. These are:
- Single use plastic drink stirrers
- Single use plastic cotton buds
- Plastics with pro-degradant additives (eg. some bin liners, dry cleaning bags and pet waste products)
- PVC food trays and containers used for products including meat, fresh produce or baked goods
- Polystyrene takeaway food and beverage packaging (eg. takeaway containers and cups)
- Expanded polystyrene food and beverage packaging including food serviceware and grocery products (eg. instant noodle containers).
Website guidance for the October plastic phase-out is now live. The guidance includes a description of the banned products, and information about exemptions and suggested alternatives.
Plastic phase-outs: guidance for sellers and manufacturers of products banned from 1 October 2022
Shifting away from hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics will help reduce plastic waste, improve our recycling systems and protect our environment. Further plastic bans are expected to come into force in 2023 and 2025. For an overview of the products included in those bans see Phasing out hard-to-recycle and single-use plastics.
Text and image: Ministry for the Environment
