Hic-cup in council’s green efforts

particular type of plastic, then they’re very recyclable. The issues come if they’re not collected ... if it goes into the rubbish.’’

When asked her thoughts on the number of plastic cups purchased by the council, Baker said it depended on the reason the cups were bought. ‘‘For example, are they trying to save ratepayers money?’’ she said.

‘‘I hope if they are going to do that [buy plastic drinking cups] or have done that, then I hope they’ve got a plan in place for their recycling at the end.’’

Barker said how compostable cups were reused depended on their material make-up, how they were collected and local composting companies.

While ‘‘home compostable’’ cups could be put into a consumer’s own compost or green waste, compostable items weren’t an easy write-off, as they could contaminate recycling or ruin organic compost licences.

The dual recyclable and compostable properties of polylactide cups, which were the most common type of compostable cup, might make them an ideal pick for the council, but these could contaminate recycling, she said.

‘‘What happens from a chemistry point of view is it basically can really contaminate the main recycling steam, and can cause things from black specks and burnt plastic, right through to it not binding together.’’

Climate Karanga Marlborough member Budyong Hill said it was ‘‘good news’’ the council was considering a move away from single-use plastic cups.

A Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) spokesman said councils had pushed for a nationwide approach to the collection and processing of recyclables.