Soft plastics recycling trial

You can now recycle soft plastics in Palmerston North.

This is a 12-month trial, which means we’re testing how well soft plastics recycling works in our city. 

Where to drop off soft plastics 

You can drop off soft plastics at: 

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

Please do not put soft plastics in your kerbside recycling bin. They need to go to one of the drop-off points above, during their opening hours. Please do not leave soft plastics outside collection points when they are closed. 

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

What soft plastics can be recycled? 

You can recycle common soft plastic items, including: 

  • bread bags 
  • bubble wrap 
  • cereal and snack food bags 
  • chip packets and confectionery wrappers that are lightly foiled
  • courier bags 
  • dairy product wraps and bags 
  • frozen food bags 
  • dry pet food bags 
  • toilet paper and paper towel wrapping 

Please make sure items are empty and clean before you drop them off. 

Try the scrunch test 

Not sure if it's recyclable? Scrunch it into a ball. If it stays scrunched, it can usually be recycled through this trial.

What we can’t accept 

Some soft plastics can’t be recycled through this trial. 

Please do not drop off:

  • compostable plastic bags 
  • disposable gloves 
  • face masks 
  • food and drink containers
  • tin foil 
Illustration of items we don't want in our soft plastic collection, like hard plastic, face masks, disposable gloves and tinfoil.

What happens to your soft plastics? 

This trial is part of the Packaging Forum's Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme, which operates collection programmes across New Zealand. 

Once collected, the soft plastics are baled and sent to approved recycling partners to be turned into new products, like fence posts, courier bags, boards and panels. 

By dropping off your soft plastics, you're helping support a circular economy where materials are collected, recycled and made into new products instead of being thrown away. 

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