Send ya lids off to school
Umm, why can’t plastic lids go in my home recycling bin again?
Plastic lids can’t be recycled with the rest of your type 1, 2, and 5 plastics. They’re just too small and keep falling out of our recyling sorting machines and the bales of recyled plastics.
Why aren’t schools collecting other types of lids?
There’s no organisation currently recycling or reusing other types of lids in Taranaki, and it’ll cost heaps to send them out of town. Some lids can’t be recycled at all if they have seals or are made of mixed materials.
My kid’s school isn’t on your list of kura taking part – why’s that?
Some schools have chosen not to take part.
How big does a lid need to be before it can be recycled in my yellow home recycling bin?
Plastics need to be types 1, 2 or 5 and be 10cm x 10 cm x 1cm to be recycled through your home kerbside recycling bin.
Why can’t lids stay on bottles and then go in my home recycling bin?
Lids need to be removed to make sure that no liquid or food is left in bottles or containers which could contaminate the recycling. We also need to check that the bottles and containers are clean. It’s easier to do that if they don’t have lids.
Do I need to clean the lids (asking for a friend)?
Yes, please. Let your friend know it’ll help keep the school’s collection containers smelling nice and fresh.
I don’t have kids at school. Can I still drop off my milk and cream bottle lids?
Absolutely! Participating schools should all have easy to see collection points for community members to drop off their lids. If you don’t see one at the gate, visit the school reception. Please be respectful and follow any rules for visitors if you’re on school grounds.
A $1,000 voucher for a local business is a cool prize! How is this being funded?
The Government charges a levy on all waste disposed of through landfills across the country. Half of the money raised is distributed to territorial authorities, including the Stratford District Council, and this makes up our Waste Levy Fund. We use this fund to support events and initiatives that reduce waste, including contestable grants for community groups, and fun things like competitions and rewards if they align with our waste minimisation goals. This competition is supported by our Waste Levy Fund and is not ratepayer funded.
Reducing the number of lids contaminating recycling and going to landfill helps to reduce overall waste costs to residents and is great for the environment too.
