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How to recycle bottles and cans in NZ?

At Coca‑Cola NZ, 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 New Zealand beautiful by recycling effectively.

Know your recyclables

First things first—what can you recycle?

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.

  • 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.
  • Paper and Cardboard: carboard cartons we use for multipacks, cardboard boxes, and clean paper products are great for recycling bins.

We also include a “recycle me” message on many of our bottles, cans and cardboard packaging as a reminder to recycle.

Clean, sort, separate

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 details on what is 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 tips.

Save your caps

In early 2024, the NZ 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.

Collection boxes are now available at 15 Foodstuffs supermarkets across Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch. You can find all you need to know about the new Scheme on https://capslids.recycling.kiwi.nz/

Let's make a difference together

Thank you for recycling!

Ngā mihi nui for your dedication and efforts. Keep recycling, New Zealand!