Many plastic items won't be recyclable in Porirua from February - overseas markets for recycling are diminishing.

The Porirua City Council is the latest to announce it will no longer be accepting plastic types three to seven, which cannot be recycled in New Zealand.

Council water and waste manager David Down said most of the countries which used to accept the city's plastic recycling are not taking it anymore.

"Unfortunately, this means that plastics graded three to seven are ending up in landfill."

READ MORE:

* Malaysia sends plastic waste back

* Councils committing plastics to landfill as waste

* Kiwis' recycling is piling up in Malaysia and being burnt in secret

* NZ is 'very behind' the world in reducing plastic

Plastic products are marked with a number from one to seven, often on the bottom of the product, to indicate what kind of plastic they are.

"If they're anything other than one or two, or if there's no number, they can't be recycled – so from February please don't put these items in your recycling bin," Down said.

MONIQUE FORD/STUFF Many might not know the plastic they put in recycling bins is sent to South East Asia for processing.

Biscuit trays, blister packs, bread and produce bags, yoghurt containers, takeaway containers and styrofoam cups, plates and some meat trays could not be recycled after that date, he said.

Those plastics are worthless - there's almost no demand for them domestically or abroad.

Down said people could consider cutting back on their plastic consumption before the change takes effect next year.

"If you use plastics numbered three to seven, they will end up in landfill. So you can help keep plastics out of the environment by choosing products that don't use this type of packaging."

The Hutt City and Upper Hutt City councils already changed recycling services to no longer accept types three to seven plastics.

Both councils cited changes to international recycling markets which had restricted the import of waste.

Plastics numbered one and two, which can still be recycled in New Zealand, include water, juice, soft drink and milk bottles, and shampoo and cleaning product bottles.

Paper, cardboard and cans could still be placed in the mixed recycling bin in Porirua after February.

Many residents wouldn't realise the plastic they recycle is sent to South East Asia for processing.

Indonesian residents have protested waste being dumped in their country, holding banners reading "Indonesia is not [your] recycling bin" in a protest called "Take Your Shit Back From Indonesia".

In a Royal Society Te Apārangi report released in July this year, researchers called on businesses to reduce or phase out plastic packaging or ensure it's recyclable here.

New Zealand is of the highest producers of household waste in the developed world per capita.

STACY SQUIRES/STUFF The international market for New Zealand's waste is drying up, intensifying the country's rubbish problems.

New Zealand is of the highest producers of household waste in the developed world per capita.