Plastic Free July: Easy Wins for Auckland Households

What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is a global movement that started in Australia in 2011 and now includes millions of people worldwide. The goal is simple: choose to refuse single-use plastics for one month. Not perfection, not a complete lifestyle overhaul – just one month of being more mindful about the plastic coming into your home.

New Zealand banned single-use plastic shopping bags in 2019, and more items have been phased out since (plastic straws, cutlery, cotton buds with plastic stems). But there's still a lot of single-use plastic in our daily lives. Plastic Free July is a chance to notice it and find alternatives.

Start with the easy stuff (no spending required)

You don't need to buy a starter kit to participate. The best swaps are the ones you already own:

• Take a reusable bag to the supermarket. Most of us have a stash of them somewhere. Put one in your car, one in your bag, and leave one by the front door so you don't forget.
• Use a refillable water bottle. Auckland tap water is excellent. A reusable bottle costs nothing after the first purchase and eliminates dozens of single-use bottles a month.
• Bring a keep cup for your coffee. Most Auckland cafes are happy to fill a reusable cup. Some even offer a small discount.
• Say no to plastic straws and cutlery. If you don't need them, don't take them. Keep a fork or spoon in your desk drawer at work.

Kitchen swaps that cut the most plastic

The kitchen is where most single-use plastic enters a household. Here are the highest-impact changes, ranked by how much plastic they eliminate:

1. Switch to loose-leaf tea or plastic-free teabags. Many teabags contain plastic and can't be composted. Loose-leaf tea with a strainer or reusable tea ball costs about the same and tastes better.
2. Buy unpackaged fruit and vegetables. Auckland supermarkets and greengrocers sell loose produce. Skip the pre-bagged apples and grab a reusable mesh bag for loose items instead.
3. Use bars instead of bottles. Shampoo, conditioner, and soap bars eliminate plastic bottles entirely. Bars are widely available at supermarkets and health stores across Auckland.
4. Switch to refillable cleaning products. Several Auckland stores sell cleaning products in bulk – bring your own container and refill. Look for refill stations at Bin Inn, GoodFor, and selected supermarkets.
5. Ditch cling film. Beeswax wraps, silicone lids, or simply putting a plate over a bowl works just as well.

At the supermarket: smart choices that cost nothing extra

• Choose cardboard over plastic packaging when there's a choice. Cardboard is widely recycled in Auckland kerbside bins.
• Avoid multi-packs wrapped in plastic. Individual items in a plastic-wrapped bundle usually cost more per unit and create extra waste.
• Buy pantry staples in bulk. Rice, pasta, oats, nuts, and dried fruit are often cheaper in the bulk section – and you use your own containers.
• Check the recycling number. Auckland kerbside recycling accepts plastics labelled 1, 2, and 5. If it's labelled 3, 4, 6, or 7, try to find an alternative.

What to do with the plastic you can't avoid

Even with effort, some plastic is hard to avoid. Here's how to handle it in Auckland:

• Soft plastics (bread bags, chip packets, cereal liners): Most Auckland supermarkets have soft plastic recycling bins near the entrance. The Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme collects these and turns them into fence posts and other products. Make sure they're clean and dry.
• Plastic bottles and containers (numbered 1, 2, 5): Rinse and place in your kerbside recycling bin. Lids can stay on now – Auckland Council updated their guidance.
• Everything else: If you can't identify the plastic type or it's not recyclable via kerbside, drop it at Manny's Recycling. We accept all household recyclables – no sorting needed, just pull up to the kerb at 53A Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay.

One swap at a time (don't try to do everything)

The most common mistake people make during Plastic Free July is trying to change everything at once and burning out by day five. Pick two or three swaps from this list and stick with them for the month. Once they feel like habits, add another.

Remember: Plastic Free July isn't about being perfect. It's about noticing how much single-use plastic is around us and making small, lasting changes. If you forget your keep cup one morning, that's fine – just remember it the next day.

Where to recycle what you do use

Plastic Type	Where It Goes
Bottles & containers (1, 2, 5)	Kerbside recycling bin
Soft plastics (bags, wraps)	Supermarket soft plastic bins
Polystyrene	Manny's Recycling or council events
Plastics (3, 4, 6, 7)	Manny's Recycling
Everything else	Manny's Recycling – 53A Donovan Street, free, 24/7