Wellington joined the national rollout of the Packaging Forum’s Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRC), with a regional launch at The Warehouse, Lyall Bay on Wednesday 19th October. In its first year of operation, the SPRS has generated some 70 tonnes of otherwise worthless soft plastics - 18 million individual bread bags, frozen food wrappers, biscuit trays, etc. as well as single-use shopping bags - for shipment to Replas, Melbourne. Replas converts it all into practical, long-lasting products sold throughout Australasia. As the New Zealand distributor for Replas, Metal Art in Seaview is right at the forefront of the SPRS. As well as marketing the recycled plastic furniture, decking, traffic controls and other items that come out of the collection, Metal Art helps facilitate the scheme’s introduction and promotion to communities nationwide. In launching Wellington’s participation in the SPRS, Minister for the Environment Dr Nick Smith congratulated all industry players for initiating the SPRS, which has exceeded expectations in diverting soft plastic from landfill to positive use. Dr Smith also noted the public’s enthusiasm, and the cultural change that is making proper disposal of our soft plastic waste a community habit. For more on local involvement in the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme, give Carl a call at Metal Ar. The scheme is explained at recycling.kiwi.nz/soft-plasticsImage caption -"Replas general manager Mark McClafferty explains the process to Associate Minister for Conservation Hon. Peter Dunne, while Metal Art's Carl Longstaff looks on.