Soft plastics recycling arrives in Palmerston North

Published on 06 July 2026

Collage of plastic bags including chippie, popcorn and pasta packets.

That stash of soft plastics you've been saving finally has somewhere to go.

From today, Palmerston North residents can drop them off for free at four convenient locations across the city, making it easier to keep plastic bags, wrappers and packaging out of landfill.

Eligible soft plastics can be dropped off at:

  • Ferguson Street Recycling Centre
  • The Warehouse
  • New World Broadway
  • Woolworths at The Plaza.

Please only drop off soft plastics during each location's opening hours.

We're delivering this 12-month trial in partnership with the Packaging Forum's Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme. The collected soft plastics will be recycled into useful new products such as fence posts, courier bags, boards and panels.

Mayor Grant Smith says it's something he has personally wanted for some time, and something the community has been asking for.

"We've heard from a lot of people who wanted a simple way to recycle soft plastics closer to home. Until now, many people have been storing them in cupboards, taking them out of town, or missing out altogether. That seemed silly for a city our size, being one of the last to recycle soft plastics. Now it's as easy as adding a quick stop to your regular shopping trip. You can drop off your soft plastics for free at these convenient spots across the city, knowing they'll be recycled through an established national programme."

The Packaging Forum Chief Executive Officer Craig Miller says he's pleased to see Palmerston North joining the growing network of soft plastics collection sites across New Zealand.

"We're delighted to bring soft plastics recycling to Palmerston North with the support of Palmerston North City Council. Council has played a key role in providing the logistics and will organise collections from our retail partners, and bale the soft plastic for transport to our recycling partners. This has been a long-awaited initiative, and we know it will be warmly welcomed by residents as an important step towards reducing waste.”

Pictures of the type of soft plastic we want, like food packaging, kitchen wrap and bubble wrap.

What can you recycle?

You can drop off clean, dry and empty soft plastics, including:

  • Bread bags
  • Bubble wrap
  • Cereal and snack food bags
  • Chip packets and confectionery wrappers (lightly foiled)
  • Courier bags
  • Dairy product wraps and bags
  • Frozen food bags
  • Dry pet food bags
  • Toilet paper and paper towel wrapping.

If you’re not sure whether it can be recycled, look for the soft plastics recycling logo on the packaging, or try the scrunch test. If you can scrunch it into a ball and it stays scrunched, it's usually suitable for the scheme.

Please don't leave soft plastics outside collection points when they're closed.

To find out more about the trial and see what you can and can’t drop off, visit pncc.govt.nz/softplastics

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