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Study shows even radical changes to recycling won't fix NZ's plastic problem

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 3 Dec 2018, 8:06AM

Study shows even radical changes to recycling won't fix NZ's plastic problem

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 3 Dec 2018, 8:06AM

The first-ever study into New Zealand's plastic packaging system shows even radical changes to your recycling won't solve our plastic problems.

Lead research at the Sustainable Business Network, James Griffin told Mike Hosking we need to shift consumer behaviour instead of focussing on recycling.

A number of major New Zealand supermarkets are in the process of ditching single-use plastic bags and replacing them with reusable cloth bags, Griffin said this is a good start.

"The plastic bag is quite a symbolic item and with the need to move to reusable systems the plastic bag situation has been quite useful in shifting customer behaviour to that reuse." 

He said a huge amount of work is needed to fix the issues with our recycling system.

"We need to radically improve the recycling system in New Zealand."

"We need to reduce the types and formats of plastics used. We need to increase onshore processing facility. Make collections around the country consistent and then pull through recycled content by demanding packaging contain recycled material. And then we need to look at eliminating unnecessary and problematic packing and moving into the reuse model."

Griffin said it is possible because "there is a huge momentum from business". 

However, Mike Hosking challenged that asking, "is there really?".

"When my groceries get delivered they are still delivered in plastic bags and they are still wrapped in plastic and everywhere I look there is plastic galore. So as a much as we might like to sit around and say, "wouldn't it be good if we did it?" We are not. And so our whole world is filled with plastic," Hosking said. 

Griffin agreed plastic is everywhere but said we have global commitments to keep us on track.

"Plastic is absolutely everywhere, particularly with packaging. So we have had about 60 years of optimising the plastic packaging system and so we need to undo that."

"There are global commitments that have been signed that by 2025 problematic packaging will be eliminated and existing packaging will either be reusable, recyclable or compostable. So 2025 isn't too far away but it gives us some time to bring that to fruition." 

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