A new recycling scheme turning bits of old bangers destined for landfill into fence posts is underway.
Eurotech Auto Repair Centre director Marino Milich said there’s been a history of being able to recycle products, “but plastics we’ve been found wanting”.
“This is great for the automotive trade, for New Zealand, and for generations to come,” said Milich.
Among the biggest plastic components are car bumpers. The plastics they’re made of are designed to absorb force but therefore don’t break down easily.
Milich sends around 10 of them to landfill every week but a new collection service from the country’s motor industry body aims to end that.
Larry Fallowfield from the Motor Trade Association said they’ve started the service in the greater south and east Auckland areas, and will be rolling it out to the greater Auckland over the next few months.
“With the intention that by the start of 2026 there will be no more bumpers going to landfill,” Fallowfield said.
The process begins in south and east Auckland, where broken car parts are placed in specifically-designed cages.
They are then brought to a plastic manufacturer in Waiuku to be made into fences.
Alloy Logistics Solutions’ Grant Rollo said they received 24 bumpers in the first rollout.
“Wwe can fit about 50 to 60 bumpers per cage,” he said.
Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick said the plastic is fed into a “big shredding machine” which chips them into 10ml pieces.
“Then we melt it together and turn it into a post.”
The Motor Trade Association is currently in talks with other companies around the country that can also repurpose plastic parts.
For now, repairers are shouldering the costs of the delivery service, but Fallowfield hopes insurers will help foot the bill.
“Most insurance companies will pay an environmental fee. What we’re trying to do is get insurance companies to pay a repurposing fee.”
Fallowfield said there’s widespread interest from repairers, with around 40 companies expected to sign up by the end of the month.