Debra Goulding - Sustainable Packaging Manager for Foodstuffs, Antony Russell – Owner Operator of New World Te Rapa, Belinda Goodwin – Hamilton City Council's Waste Minimisation Educator and Gavin Allan – Retail Operations for Foodstuffs at the opening of the scheme at New World Te Rapa.

Waikato locals can now recycle plastic and metal caps and lids at their local supermarket, thanks to a new partnership between Foodstuffs and The Packaging Forum’s Caps and Lids Recycling Scheme. 

Collection points are now available at New World Te Rapa, PAK’nSAVE Mill Street, and PAK’nSAVE Te Awamutu, making it easier than ever for people to recycle while doing their shopping. 

With caps and lids no longer accepted in kerbside recycling, Foodstuffs, the New Zealand owned and operated co-operative behind New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores, has stepped in to help fill the gap. 

Debra Goulding, Sustainable Packaging Manager at Foodstuffs says: “The beauty of this initiative is its simplicity.  By placing collection points in busy, accessible supermarkets, we’re making it easy for customers to keep valuable materials out of landfill and in circulation.” 

The scheme launched in Waikato today, with a special event at New World Te Rapa. Waikato joins Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch and Wellington in the nationwide programme, bringing the total number of participating Foodstuffs stores to 42. 

Since its initial rollout in September last year, the scheme has already diverted around 11 tonnes of plastic and metal caps and lids from landfill. 

Run by The Packaging Forum and supported by industry funding, the scheme ensures all collected materials are sorted and recycled properly.  

Malcolm Everts, Scheme Manager for the Packaging Forum Caps & Lids launch, says the programme is going from strength to strength. “New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores are some of the most visited locations in the country. Their support gives thousands more Kiwis access to easy, effective recycling. In April alone, the scheme collected 2 tonnes of caps and lids from Foodstuffs stores plus community recycling centres and zero waste network - proof that momentum is building.”   

Next up, the scheme has its sights set on Dunedin, with work underway to ensure local infrastructure and partnerships are ready to support the rollout. 

Waikato residents can now drop off caps and lids at 

• PAK’nSAVE Mill Street, Hamilton 
• New World Te Rapa 
• PAK’nSAVE Te Awamutu 

For more information and a full list of participating locations, visit https://capsandlidsrecycling.co.nz