STOP TRASHING THE WORLD!

Paul from Levin

“How to Stop Trashing the World”
This is the sub-title of a feature article in the NZ Listener for the week October 27-November 2. I was surprised to learn that all 7 types of plastic are recyclable. (There are actually 8 categories as type 6 includes two.) But here in Horowhenua only types 1 & 2 are accepted for recycling and I believe it is only marginally better in other districts.

Surely, if we can keep all 8 categories out of the environment, we must do so. To achieve this, the future must involve the creation of what is referred to as a “circular plastics economy.” New Zealand has been slow to accept this but it is taking shape at Flight Plastics in Upper Hutt which was the first company in Australasia to start using PET (ID Code 1) in the late 1980s. It is surely time we began to take responsibility for our use of plastic and push for the creation of a “circular plastics economy.”

Here is the summary of how all 8 types of plastic can and are being re-used.

Type 1 (PET):
Pillow & sleeping bag filling, clothing, soft drink bottles, carpet.

Type 2 (HDPE):
Recycling bins, compost bins,buckets, detergent containers, posts, fencing.

Type 3 (PVC):
Flooring, film and sheets,cables, speed bumps, mud flaps, mats.

Type 4 (LDPE & LLDPE):
Rubbish bin liners, pallet sheets, slip sheets.

Type 5 (PP):
Pegs, bins, pipes,pallet sheets, oil funnels, car battery cases, trays.

Type 6 (PP):
Coat hangers, coasters, whiteware components, stationary trays.

Type 6 (EPS):
Car parts concrete aggregate, plastic timber.

Type 7 (OTHER):
Car parts, concrete aggregate, plastic timber.