Make a note of your collection day, particularly over public holidays when the times are usually different.  We consume 3 times more bottles and cans over the holidays and in seaside areas it’s an additional 400%.  If you’re going away, check what the local arrangements are. 97% of New Zealanders have access to facilities to recycle paper, glass, cans and plastics 1 and 2 so there is no excuse for not separating products for recycling from household waste.

You can recycle:

• Paper, glass, metals (food tins, drink cans, jar lids, wine bottle screw tops)
• Plastics 1&2  (and in some places 1-7)

Organise household bins.

Recycle more packaging more often. New Zealanders consume nearly 730,000 tonnes of packaging every year but we only recycle just over half of it.

Day 5

Make a Difference by saying no.

Use a reusable shopping bag when you go out Christmas shopping or only use a plastic bag if you really need to. On average every New Zealander uses around 160 bags each a year.

Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Did you know using recycled products is also better for the environment because it uses less energy and emits fewer greenhouse gas emissions? In 2007, the amount of packaging we recycled across NZ was the equivalent of taking more than 56,000 cars off the road!

Be clean and conserve space. Rinse out bottles and cans so it’s more pleasant for the recycling operators. Squash plastic containers and cans to save space. Remember, metal lids on jars and wine bottle screw tops will recycle as well as they are made from steel or aluminium.

Reuse or recycle your greeting cards. New Zealanders send around 225 million cards every year.  Your paper collector will recycle your old cards. Wrapping paper can be flattened and reused or recycled.

Recycle cardboard toy and gift boxes. Flatten and recycle boxes. Did you know that 78% of cardboard is recycled in New Zealand and that is one of the best records in the world?

Its not just packaging which can be recycled - there are collection points around for all of these for used batteries, print cartridges and old mobile.

Recycle your green waste and kitchen waste.  23% of our landfills consists of organic waste which could be composted.  If you can't compost at home, check with your local council if they have a collection programme for it.  Alternatively, contact your local transfer station or garden bag operator.