Recycling 101: The Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) Explained

If you have ever stood at the bin turning a yoghurt pottle over in your hand, the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) exists for you. It is the small on-pack label that tells you whether each part of a piece of packaging can be recycled, and how to prepare it. Used well, it takes most of the guesswork out of recycling.

What is the Australasian Recycling Label?

The ARL is an evidence-based labelling system that appears on packaging across Australia and New Zealand. It is run by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), and New Zealand's Ministry for the Environment has endorsed it as the preferred recycling label here.

What makes the ARL useful is that it reflects real collection services, not theoretical recyclability. Each packaging component is assessed against what recycling services actually accept, so the label matches what happens after the truck leaves. When New Zealand standardised its kerbside collections in February 2024, the assessments behind the label were updated to match.

Why was the ARL created?

Recycling is confusing. Councils accept different materials, and well-meaning guesses are a major source of contamination. The ARL was developed to:

• reduce contamination in recycling bins

• help people make informed decisions at the bin

• standardise recycling information across Australia and New Zealand

• lift recycling rates through clearer communication

What do the ARL categories mean?

The label uses three core categories, applied separately to each component of the packaging.

1. Recyclable. A solid recycling loop means that component can go in your kerbside recycling bin. The label may add a preparation step, such as removing the lid or rinsing the container.

2. Conditionally recyclable. A clear, outlined loop with an instruction underneath, such as return to store or check locally. The component is only recyclable if you follow that instruction. If you can't, it belongs in general waste.

3. Not recyclable. A bin symbol means the component can't be recycled through standard systems and should go in your rubbish bin.

One pack can carry several instructions at once: a recyclable box, a non-recyclable film window, a lid with its own rule.

How to keep your recycling contamination-free

• Check before you toss. Look for the ARL rather than judging by material. Local services vary, and plenty of packaging that looks recyclable isn't.

• Clean your recyclables. Food residue is one of the main causes of contamination. A quick rinse can be the difference between an item being recycled and a load being rejected.

• When in doubt, leave it out. Contaminated recycling can send a whole truckload to landfill, so an unsure item is safer in general waste.

• Separate mixed materials. Where the label calls for it, split the components before they go in the bin.

Common recycling myths

• Myth: all plastic is recyclable. Reality: kerbside collections accept a limited range, and in New Zealand that means plastics 1, 2 and 5 only.

• Myth: small items are fine in the recycling bin. Reality: anything smaller than about 50 mm falls through sorting machinery, which is why New Zealand's standard kerbside rules exclude items under that size.

• Myth: pizza boxes always belong in the rubbish. Reality: in New Zealand, empty pizza boxes are now accepted kerbside, light grease included. Scrape out food scraps and bin any heavily soiled sections.

Common questions

Is the ARL used in New Zealand?

Yes. The Ministry for the Environment has endorsed the ARL as New Zealand's preferred recycling label, and its assessments reflect the standardised kerbside rules introduced in February 2024.

What does the clear loop with text underneath mean?

That component is conditionally recyclable. Follow the instruction printed with it, such as returning soft plastics to a store drop-off; if you can't, put it in general waste.

Does all packaging carry the ARL?

No. The programme is voluntary, so some packaging is unlabelled. When there is no label, check your council's guidance rather than guessing.