What Do the Plastic Numbers (1–7) Mean in NZ Recycling?

The short answer

Those little triangles with numbers aren't a recycling guarantee. They're a resin identification code – they just tell you what type of plastic the item is made from. And here's the part most people miss: Auckland kerbside recycling only takes three of the seven numbers.

• Accepted kerbside: 1 (PET), 2 (HDPE) and 5 (PP) – bottles and food containers.
• Not accepted kerbside: 3 (PVC), 4 (LDPE), 6 (PS) and 7 (other).
• Manny's Recycling takes all seven – free, 24/7, no sorting, at 53A Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay.

What each number actually is

Here's the full rundown, from the drink bottle in your fridge to the foam in your courier box.

1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

Soft drink and water bottles, juice bottles, clear food trays and clamshells. It's light, clear and the most widely recycled plastic in the world. Kerbside: yes.

2 – HDPE (high-density polyethylene)

Milk bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, cleaning product bottles, and the tubs for things like yoghurt and ice cream. It's tough and chemical-resistant. Kerbside: yes.

3 – PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

Pipes, plumbing fittings, some cling film and packaging. Hard to recycle and can release harmful chemicals when processed. Kerbside: no.

4 – LDPE (low-density polyethylene)

Soft plastics: bread bags, produce bags, bubble wrap, courier satchels and cereal liners. It scrunches, so it jams the sorting machinery. Kerbside: no – but it has its own free drop-off scheme (see below).

5 – PP (polypropylene)

Yoghurt pots, margarine and butter tubs, takeaway containers, and medicine bottles. Heat-resistant and sturdy. Kerbside: yes.

6 – PS (polystyrene)

Packing foam, meat trays, takeaway cups and bean bag beans. Lightweight and bulky, so it's rarely worth transporting. Kerbside: no.

7 – Other

A catch-all for everything else: polycarbonate, bio-plastics, and multi-layer plastics that don't fit 1–6. Because it's a mixed bag, it's hard to recycle at scale. Kerbside: no.

Why only 1, 2 and 5?

Plastics 1, 2 and 5 are the most common, cleanest and highest-value plastics, so there's a reliable market for the material once it's sorted. Numbers 3, 4, 6 and 7 are lower quality, more contaminated, or more expensive to process – which is why Auckland's kerbside service leaves them out. It's not that they can never be recycled; it's that the kerbside stream can't handle them.

The official line from Auckland Council's waste education team is blunt: they currently only accept items with a 1, 2 or 5 recycling symbol. If the symbol has no number inside it, or a number that isn't 1, 2 or 5, it does not go in your kerbside bin.

The rules that trip people up

Even with the right number, a few kerbside rules catch people out (all current as of August 2026):

• Lids off. Small lids and flat lids (ice cream, margarine, takeaway) don't go in the recycling bin at all – they go in the rubbish.
• Size matters. Containers must be bigger than 5cm at their widest point and smaller than 4 litres. Tiny and jumbo items get missed by the machinery.
• Empty and rinse, then place loose. Never bag your recycling, and give containers a quick rinse first.
• No soft plastics, no Tetra Pak, no polystyrene. Milk and juice cartons, bread bags and foam all belong somewhere else.

The ♻ symbol without a number

This is the most common recycling mistake. A plain recycling symbol (♻) with no number inside – or one that just says "recyclable" – does not mean your kerbside bin will take it. It often just means the manufacturer contributed to a recycling scheme somewhere. The only thing that matters for your yellow-lid bin is the number, and only 1, 2 and 5 make the cut.

Where the other numbers go

Just because kerbside won't take a plastic doesn't mean it has to go to landfill.

• #4 soft plastics – supermarkets run a free nationwide drop-off scheme. See our soft plastics recycling guide for the bins near you.
• #6 polystyrene – we take it free, 24/7. Read our polystyrene disposal guide for the details.
• #3 and #7 – the hardest to recycle, so the best move is to avoid them at the shops where you can. When you do end up with some, drop it at Manny's and we'll sort it.

How Manny's Recycling fits in

We take the lot – every number from 1 to 7, plus glass, cardboard, paper, metal cans, e-waste and batteries. No bins, no fees, no sorting, no questions. Pull up to the stone wall at 53A Donovan Street, Blockhouse Bay, leave your recycling beside the kerb, and drive away. Volunteers sort it later and send each type to the right place.

If you'd rather not memorise which number goes where, that's exactly what we're for.

Quick reference

Number	Plastic	Common items	Kerbside?
1	PET	Drink bottles, food trays	✓ Yes
2	HDPE	Milk, shampoo, cleaning bottles	✓ Yes
3	PVC	Pipes, some cling film	✗ No
4	LDPE	Bread bags, bubble wrap	✗ No (soft plastics scheme)
5	PP	Yoghurt pots, margarine tubs	✓ Yes
6	PS	Foam, meat trays, packing	✗ No
7	Other	Mixed, bio- and multi-layer plastics	✗ No

Common questions

Does the number mean it's recyclable?

No. The number is just a resin code telling you what the plastic is. In Auckland, only 1, 2 and 5 are recyclable through your kerbside bin.

Can I put plastic number 4 in my recycling bin?

No. Number 4 is soft plastic, which jams the sorting machinery. Take it to a supermarket soft-plastics bin instead, or drop it at Manny's.

Do I need to remove lids before recycling?

Yes. Lids, especially small and flat ones, go in your rubbish bin, not your recycling. The container itself can go in with its number showing.

What about plastic number 7?

Number 7 is a mixed bag that kerbside recycling can't process. Avoid it where possible, and bring anything you do have to Manny's – we'll sort it for you.