I’m still working through tidying up some of the earlier markers that were added to the site, with things like opening hours. This will take a few days I expect.

On an unrelated note, I’ve been considering whether there would be value in adding an online discussion board feature to RecycleMap. I’m not sure the traffic is at a level that would sustain such a feature just yet, but I can see the potential in having a discussion board/community, giving people and organisations the ability to communicate about and discuss recycling across the motu. If you have any thoughts on this, whether you think it’s a terrible idea, or think it would be great to have a “hub” of sorts to discuss recycling, please do let me know.

Permission has been granted by Dulux to use their logo on the paint and paint containers recycling map, for all Dulux Trade Centres. This logo has now been added to the map!

I’m currently going through and reviewing all Soft Plastics marker locations. “Soft Plastics” was one of the first map categories that went live on RecycleMap, utilising the list of participating locations available from the Packaging Forum. In the months since the map was created, there are now dozens more locations, along with a few that are no longer listed. These are being added and changed where required. The plan is to then go through the list and pad out all the locations opening hours and links for reference.

Tweaked wording on the Batteries, Polystyrene, and Plant pot map pages. In addition, the markers for Mitre 10 stores have been updated to feature the “Mitre 10 Orange” to make the maps more user friendly.

All participating Resene ColorShops, Dulux paint centres, and Guthrie Bowron stores have now been added to the paint and paint container recycling map!

Markers are now being added to a new map category for Paint, and paint containers!

A drop down list has been added to the landing page of RecycleMap. This is to help users with finding the maps they need. For example, some users may be looking for paper recycling facilities, whilst others for cardboard recycling facilities. The drop down menu allows for both Paper and Cardboard items, linking back to the same dual-purpose map.
Additionally, there are so many more map categories to be added, this helps future-proof the website!

In other news, there are still a few more Op Shops to add, but then the next categories to come will be Paint Tins, Used Tires, and Child Car seats. Importantly, the Paint and Tire facilities will cater to domestic waste, as to industrial/commercial.

Additional text has been added to the Op Shop category page, advising visitors that Op Shops require dropped off goods to be in good, saleable condition. Damaged, soiled and broken items end up having to be dumped at the landfill, which ultimately costs the charities to do so!

An acknowledgment section has also been added as a footer to the Op Shop map page, thanking the various charities that have kindly granted permission to use their logos or icons as map markers.

All 80+ Mitre 10 stores have now been added to the plastic plant pot recycling map. This brings the total number of plant pot recycling locations available to 115. There are some subtle differences between Bunnings and Mitre 10 in terms of what is accepted for recycling, but both primarily are focused on clean plastic plant pots that have the #5 recycling logo on them. Mitre 10 will also take the plastic pot labels, whilst Bunnings does not (but they do take plastic stakes!)

31 Bunnings stores across the motu have been added to the plastic plant pot recycling map.

They “accept plastic plant packaging made from polypropylene plastic 5 (otherwise known as PP5). This includes all sizes of plant pots and stakes. Plant labels, even those made from PP5, cannot be recycled.”