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Recycling in Public Places Initiative

The Recycling in Public Places Initiative is a partnership between central and local government to establish a network of easily recognisable recycling bins in high foot-traffic and key tourist locations across New Zealand.

With 600 bins in place by 2010, the initiative is the start of a solution to provide New Zealanders and overseas visitors with the option to recycle while they are out and about. It also aims to support recycling facilities that organisations have already established for their customers and encourage more businesses to set up their own facilities or contribute to the network in their regions.

The Recycling in Public Places Initiative is part of the government’s commitment to make New Zealand a sustainable nation.

Objectives

Help New Zealanders make sustainable choices by providing facilities to recycle away from home
Enhance international visitor perceptions of a ‘clean, green New Zealand’ though a visible, easily identifiable, network of public recycling facilities
Raise awareness of recycling in public and encourage appropriate use of the bins.

Branding

The bins will all feature the Love NZ - Recycle with care brand to make them easily recognisable as recycling bins and to encourage recycling while New Zealanders and overseas visitors are out and about.

Marketing the brand through a promotional campaign is part of the initiative and occurs in areas where the Recycling in Public Places bins are being set up.

Why focus on recycling in public places?

Establishing a network of recycling bins across New Zealand in public places will:

engage the public on waste issues and raise the profile of recycling
assist in capturing the economic benefits of minimising waste – including through the creation of new markets and new products from recovered materials, and the development of infrastructure to support recycling
encourage innovative solutions to waste disposal problems
assist councils in their waste management performance
extend the recovery of recyclables from domestic kerbside to public places
enable businesses to contribute their expertise and take responsibility for the environmental and disposal problems of manufactured products.

How does it work?

The Ministry for the Environment will partner with councils (and partnerships of multiple local authorities) to purchase and install around 200 bins annually for three years (ending June 2010). The Ministry will contribute to the servicing of the bins until 2010 once the bins are installed.
The bins will collect a range of common packaging materials including 1 and 2 plastics, glass and cans for recycling, depending on councils’ operational requirements.
The bins will be recognisable through the Love NZ - Recycle with care brand and supported with a locally delivered public awareness campaign.
After June 2010 individual councils will be responsible for the long term operational and maintenance of the bins in their area.
Councils are encouraged to work with local businesses and develop partnerships to install and operate bins in high usage, privately-owned places such as shopping malls, airports and service stations.
The deliverables of the initiative (recycling facilities, branding, marketing campaign materials) have the potential to benefit recycling at major events.

Who is eligible for government funding?

Local councils and partnerships headed by local councils.

How is funding allocated?

Councils can apply for funding through an annual funding round. The 2008/2009 funding round has closed.
The initiative aims to fund the purchase and installation of 220 bins in 2009/2010 and will provide a contribution to serving these bins through until June 2010.
The funding round for 2009/2010 will open in March 2009. Specific dates will be available in early 2009.
The focus for the project is large metropolitan areas, high foot traffic areas and high tourist throughput areas.
The application guidelines set out the criteria by which the applications are assessed for funding.

Application guidelines

The project in 2008/2009

Applications for the 2008/2009 year are now closed.

Media Release - More councils funded to keep kiwis recycling

The successful councils for 2008/2009 year are:

Auckland City Council (on behalf five councils in the Auckland region)
Auckland Regional Council
Buller District Council
Environment Waikato (in collaboration with Thames-Coromandel District Council and Otorohanga District Council)
Gisborne District Council
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Invercargill City Council
Queenstown Lakes District Council
Tasman District Council
Tauranga City Council
Wanganui District Council
Westland District Council

These newly participating councils and the 2007/2008 pilot councils are encouraged to assist other councils in developing their applications for the third and final year of funding.

The pilot programme 2007/2008

The first year of the Recycling in Public Places Initiative tested the process of setting up the recycling infrastructure, created the Love NZ – Recycle with care brand for the bins, established the evaluation programme and set up the reporting mechanisms.

The councils who came on board in 2007/2008 were Wellington City Council, Far North District Council, Kaikoura District Council, Christchurch City Council Queenstown Lakes District Council and Environment Waikato.

More information

If you:

represent a local council, you can read the application guidelines on how to apply to join the initiative.
represent a business who would like to be involved in recycling – you can read the application guidelines and contact your local council, or a local council that you may want to partner with.
represent an organisation that already has recycling facilities, but would like to use the Love NZ – Recycle with care brand for your bins please contact the Ministry for the Environment.

For more information:
Sustainable Business Group
Ministry for the Environment:
Environment House
23 Kate Sheppard Place
PO Box 10-362
Wellington 6143
Tel (04) 439 7400

Email lovenz@mfe.govt.nz