The New Zealand Government has announced a regulated Rural Recycling Scheme for farm plastics, which will come into effect on March 1, 2027, replacing existing voluntary recycling initiatives. 

Established under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, the scheme will introduce a mandatory producer responsibility and take-back system for specified agricultural products and plastics. The scheme will be operated by Agrecovery, a non-profit organization focused on agricultural waste recycling. 

Products Covered 

The scheme will apply to: 

• Agrichemicals sold in plastic containers or drums of up to 1,000 litres.  

• Plastic bale wrap and silage sheets.  

• Agricultural products sold in:  

• Plastic bags weighing 16–40 kg.  

• Woven polypropylene bags weighing more than 40 kg.  

• Agricultural products include seeds, livestock feed, fertilizers, soil and crop inputs, and livestock supplements.  

Key Producer Requirements 

From March 1, 2027, producers selling regulated products in New Zealand will be required to: 

• Register with the regulated scheme operated by Agrecovery.  

• Report their regulated sales volumes every quarter.  

• Pay mandatory fees based on the quantity of regulated products sold.  

• Participate in the take-back and recycling system for end-of-life agricultural plastics.  

The scheme represents New Zealand’s move from voluntary recycling initiatives toward a mandatory product stewardship framework for farm plastics and related agricultural products. 

 

Category	Product
Agrichemicals and their containers
	Packaging part of fee	Per litre or kg
	Containers up to 60 litres/kg	0.10
	Containers over 60 litres/kg, and less than Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC)	0.025
	IBC (approx. 1,000 litres/kg)	0.02
	Chemical part of fee	Per litre or kg
	Group 1	0.01
	Group 2	0.03
	Group 3: In containers up to 60 litres/kg	0.04
	Group 3: In containers of 60 litres/kg or more	0.06
	Household pest and weed control products
	Packaging part of fee
	Cost per container	0.10
	Chemical part of fee	Per litre or kg
	Group 1	0.02
	Group 2	0.08
	Group 3	0.10

 

Other farm plastics	Bale wrap and silage sheet	Per tonne
	Bale wrap	462.02  (or approximately 52 cents per bale)
	Silage sheet	462.02
	Bags	Per bag
	Small bags	0.20
	Large bags	3.58