Plant Containers Recycling
Agrecovery is working alongside New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated (NZPPI) and the wider plant production industry to develop a practical product stewardship scheme for plastic plant containers.
Most of the proposed scheme model is now developed and we have established a model that defines:
- Which products and plastic types we can collect
- How plant containers need to be presented to us for recycling
- How to collect and transport them while meeting biosecurity standards
- The processing requirements recyclers have for them
The final step is securing support and funding from the suppliers and producers that place plant pots and trays on the New Zealand market. Agrecovery is currently working through what a voluntary product stewardship scheme could look like and how it could be funded.
Want to recycle your plant containers?
Please fill out this form.
Help move the scheme forward
Industry support is essential to getting the scheme established.
You can help by letting us know that you would support a product stewardship scheme and by encouraging your pot and tray suppliers to engage with Agrecovery.
Suppliers can also help by printing, moulding or indenting plastic resin identification codes on their products, making it easier for growers to separate materials correctly and for recyclers to process them.
To register your support or discuss participating in the scheme, email info@agrecovery.org.nz
Acceptance criteria for the scheme:
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Customers/members must separate at source (between PP#5 and PS#6)
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All products must have either a “PP” “5” “PS” “6” on it to clearly identify it – we can’t accept other/unidentifiable products
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Pots and trays must be banged out to remove most contamination – we can’t accept product with dirt and roots still in it
Canterbury Site
325 Old West Coast Road, Christchurch 7676
*Need to book in, contact us at info@agrecovery.org.nz
Te Puke Site
176B Young Road, Te Puke 3189
*Opening hours Tue and Thu 9am-3pm, no booking required.
Have a question?
While the voluntary scheme is being developed, Agrecovery offers a paid recycling service for plant producers who need a solution now.
We currently accept polypropylene marked PP #5 and polystyrene marked PS #6.
The two plastic types must be kept separate, clearly identifiable, and have soil and plant matter knocked out before collection.
The cost is $350 per tonne, plus cartage where required. Agrecovery will also provide a recycling activity report confirming the material collected.
To check whether your plant containers can be accepted or to arrange a collection, email info@agrecovery.org.nz