24 Jul 2019

Following the journey of your recycling bag.

From Nights, 9:28 pm on 24 July 2019
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Photo: RNZ Bryan Crump

In this special report, Bryan has been looking into how we deal with recycling in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Sorted plastic at the Oji depot, bailed and ready to ship.

Sorted plastic at the Oji depot, bailed and ready to ship. Photo: Supplied Wellington City Council

Fresh off the truck, recycling going onto the first conveyor belts to begin the sorting process at Oji.

Fresh off the truck, recycling going onto the first conveyor belts to begin the sorting process at Oji. Photo: Supplied Wellington City Council

He follows the trail from the recycling bag at his garden gate to the recycling plants and beyond to find out where it ends up.

Plastic flakes, washed and broken up, ready to become semi molten before being extruded into plastic sheets for reincarnation as another plastic item at Flight Plastics.

Plastic flakes, washed and broken up, ready to become semi molten before being extruded into plastic sheets for reincarnation as another plastic item at Flight Plastics. Photo: Supplied Wellington City Council

Ready for re-use. This time as a biscuit tray.

Ready for re-use. This time as a biscuit tray. Photo: Supplied Wellington City Council