Clive bridge a tv star

The Clive bridge cycleway, with its footpath made from 4.2 million recycled plastic bags, has made national news this week, cited as an example of just what can be done with discarded plastic bags.

And there should be a lot more happening in the sector, with central Government putting $700,000 into the kitty to pay for installing collection points for soft plastics around the country.

“Soft plastics include bread bags, frozen food bags, toilet paper packaging, confectionery and biscuit wrap, chip bags, pasta and rice bags, courier envelopes, shopping bags, sanitary hygiene packaging - basically anything made of plastic which can be scrunched into a ball,” said Hastings District Council waste minimisation officer Dominic Salmon.

According to Fairfax Media, retailers are putting in $600,000 towards the project. 

“This is really exciting as there are currently no options to deal with soft plastics,” said Mr Salmon.

Environment Minister Nick Smith donned heels made from recycled plastic bags last week, to kick off the initiative in Auckland.

He said New Zealanders are doing well at recycling glass, hard plastics and paper. "Targeting these soft plastics is the next logical step for increasing recycling in New Zealand,” he told Stuff.

The first bins have been installed across Auckland and it is expected that the bins will be rolled out across the regions over the next three years. 

“As this is a nationally funded project, it is a little bit frustrating that this option is not immediately accessible in Hawke’s Bay and so these materials are unable to be economically recycled here until the project is expanded, however there is little we can do about that,” said Mr Salmon.

The Clive River Bridge cycle lane, a combined NZTA and Hastings District Council project, continues to attract attention nationally for its recycled material. It was officially opened in October.

For the Clive River Bridge news item see:

www.3news.co.nz/nznews/new-scheme-to-recycle-soft-plastic-2015112518#axzz3t1HO5uKc

4 October 2017

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