PACKAGING

How to recycle bottles and cans in New Zealand

At Coca‑Cola New Zealand we believe that a sustainable future is one we can build together. Recycling is a vital part of that journey. Let's explore how you can play your part in keeping Aotearoa, New Zealand beautiful by recycling the right way.

Get to know your recyclables

First things first - what can you recycle?

Aotearoa, New Zealand's recycling system accepts a wide range of materials, but it's crucial to familiarise yourself with what's recyclable in your local area. We also include a “recycle me” message on many of our bottles, cans and cardboard packaging as a reminder to recycle.

Plastic Bottles

All our plastic bottles are recyclable

Glass Bottles

All clear, green, and brown glass bottles are recyclable

Aluminum Cans

Beverage cans are highly recyclable

Clean. Sort. Separate.

Can and bottle recycling can be easy, but one of the most common recycling pitfalls is contamination. When food scraps or non-recyclable items end up in the recycling bin it makes it harder for recyclers to clean and sort the material. Always remember to empty and rinse out bottles and cans.

Cans and bottles are eligible for kerbside recycling collection, but it’s also recommended to check your local council website for any new recycling rules, what’s accepted and what goes in each of your council provided bins.

Know your local council's guidelines

New Zealand's recycling rules can vary from one area to another, so visit your local council website to find more information. Most councils provide detailed recycling guides specific to your area, listing accepted materials and offering recycling tips and tricks.

Save your caps

In early 2024, the New Zealand Government standardised kerbside recycling rules across Aotearoa. Unfortunately, this means that items under 50mm, including bottle caps and sipper caps are no longer accepted in kerbside recycling collection, due to their size. To tackle this, our bottling partner CCEP, along with industry partners and The Packaging Forum, have launched a bottle cap and lid collection scheme.

Find your nearest collection box here.

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Thank you for helping us recycle!

Used and empty plastic bottles aren't done when you are. In New Zealand, all our bottles and cans can be recycled. Together, we can help prevent them becoming waster by recycling them and helping them have another life.

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Our bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic*

In 2019, we transitioned all single-serve bottles to 100% rPET (the term used for recycled PET) in New Zealand. This means that all of our plastic bottles are made with 100% recycled plastic (* excluding caps and labels).

Why does New Zealand need a Container Return Scheme?

Container Return Schemes play a huge role in ensuring that eligible beverage containers get recycled and don't end up in landfill. We are strong supporters of Container Return Schemes, which not only enable our beverage containers to be collected and recycled, but they also give our cans and bottles the best chance of becoming a can or bottle again.

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