Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme

The Packaging Forum’s soft plastic recycling scheme is now available in 16 locations spread throughout the district, including: Thames, Tairua, Coromandel Town, Whangamatā, Whitianga and Pāuanui.

This scheme promotes the recycling of household volumes soft plastic recycling using community collection bins. The soft plastics will then be turned into fence posts or building materials.

WM New Zealand has taken over the collection of the soft plastics and baling the plastic ready to transport either to Future Post in Tuakau (where the product will be made into plastic fence posts) or saveBOARD in Hamilton (where it will be made into building materials).

A big thank you to Smart Environmental who were integral in helping Council and the Packaging Forum bring this service to our communities.

For more information on the scheme nationally please visit Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme | Home

If you are a business and would like a commercial collection arrangement for your soft plastics, please contact a local waste collection company directly

Volumes collected

Since the scheme started, the volumes of soft plastics collected in our district through all the participating venues are:

  • June 2025 – September 2025: 7.24 tonnes
  • Feb 2025 – May 2025: 7.35 tonnes 
  • October 2024 – 2025: 8.37 tonnes 
  • July 2024 – September 2024: 4.74 tonnes 
  • April 2024 – June 2024: 4.596 tonnes
  • Dec 2023 – March 2024: 4.176 tonnes
  • April 2023 – Nov 2023: 9.18 tonnes
  • July 2022 – March 2023: 5.58 tonnes

     

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Where can I find these community bins?

Thames

  • Pak’nSave
  • The Warehouse
  • Thames Council Office
  • Thames Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station

Coromandel Town

  • Coromandel Town Council Office
  • Coromandel Town Four Square

Whangamatā

  • New World Whangamatā
  • Council office Whangamatā 
  • Whangamatā Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station

Whitianga

  • New World Whitianga 
  • Countdown Whitianga 
  • The Warehouse Whitianga
  • Council office Whitianga
  • Whitianga Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station

Tairua

  • Tairua Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station

Pāuanui

  • Pāuanui Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station
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