Soft plastic recycling initiatives wasted on some

Aucklanders are mostly unaware of soft plastic recycling initiatives despite being available to most, according to a poll.

The Soft Plastic Recycling scheme ensures a soft plastic recycle bin is within 20 kilometres of homes or places of work, available to 90 per cent of the population.

Despite this, most people say that they are unaware of the recycling scheme or do not use it.

A recent Te Waha Nui social media poll shows that only 14 percent of people surveyed actively recycle soft plastic.

Meanwhile another 35 per cent were aware of it, but never used it, while the remaining 51 percent had no idea of the initiative.

One shopper at Countdown on Quay St said she’d no idea of the bin despite having just walked past it.

“No, I have never used the bins before or even seen them before for that matter”.

Those who do use it often cannot find it as the bins are not clearly advertised.

Another shopper says, “I always have to ask where it is, it’s quite hidden, I wish they would put it at the entrance.”

Despite the survey’s 86 per cent saying they either didn’t know about or had never used the service, Countdown Quay St customer service representative Jacob Scott says there are a significant number of users.

“It fills up every day, everyone goes to the supermarket so it’s not out of the way”.