The Waitaki Resource Recovery Park has been able to adapt immediately to new regulations for recycled plastic imposed by China to ensure the safety of its workers.
Chinese customs has restricted recycled plastic coming into its country for processing to those with the official recycling numbers of one to seven.
The manager of the resource recovery park, Marian Shore, said while the change lessened the volume of material that could be diverted from landfills, it was important Chinese workers and their environment were not harmed.
Plastics were sorted into separate lines at the resource recovery park in Oamaru.
"Because we manually sort these plastics, we are able to adapt immediately to this change, unlike more mechanised operations, where . . . [it would be harder] to comply," she said.
Customers had been receptive to the change and were generally keen to present their materials in any way required, she said.
Many people were now challenging and boycotting the manufacturers of plastic packaging materials which did not have recycling symbols, she said.
