Charges apply to coloured plastic disposal from mid-July

From next Monday (14 July) coloured 1 (PET) plastics will no longer be accepted for recycling at council waste transfer and recycling stations. Instead, disposing of coloured 1 (PET) plastic will attract the same charge as other household waste going to landfill.

This is due to the international market for coloured 1 (PET) plastics shrinking for the past several years, and it is now uneconomic for the Far North to recycle these.

Coloured 1 (PET) plastic is mostly made up of drink bottles and blue tinted water bottles. Clear plastics displaying the 1 (PET) symbol, such as meat trays, are not affected and will continue be accepted at council transfer and recycling centres.

The council had been stockpiling this grade of plastics in the hope markets would recover. However, the collected coloured 1 (PET) plastic has deteriorated to the point it cannot now be recycled. Sending the stockpile to landfill is expected to cost up to $45,000, but the council is now investigating alternative solutions and hopes to make an announcement on this shortly

The date council waste transfer and recycling stations would start charging customers to divert coloured 1 (PET) plastics to landfill was initially slated for 16 June but customers were given a one-month grace period so they could adapt to the changes and also to allow for updated signage at transfer and recycling stations to be installed. Charges for waste disposal at council transfer stations can be found on our Rubbish-and-Recycling website.

Most plastics are stamped with a number indicating the plastic type. Demand for different plastics varies considerably, resulting in different values for each type. Like any commodity, markets and prices for different types of plastics vary considerably.

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Main picture– Coloured PET signs you'll find at recycle centres.

Below - Coloured PET signs you'll find at community recycling centres.