A nationwide initiative is putting the challenge to the public to rinse, recycle and repeat in a bid to win cash prizes. 

The project aims to lift Kiwis recycling abilities. So to help with this, WasteMINZ is giving you the opportunity to win $25,000 and all you have to do is show the world how you rinse your recycling.

WasteMINZ is the largest representative body of the waste, resource recovery and contaminated land management sectors in New Zealand. 

Recycling in Central Otago is a little complicated, with lids unable to be recycled and must only be put in the red bin. 

Film yourself rinsing and recycling and you could win $25,000. 

Central Otago District Council Waste Minimisation Officer Abi Hawkins is promoting the initiative in Central. 

She says the vast majority of people are nearly there with their recycling - following the guidelines and putting the correct items in the correct way into their recycling bins. 

“It’s the small changes that most people can do with being reminded of that will improve the standard of our recycling. 

“These are things like rinsing our recycling so there is no food residue or grease. 

“It doesn’t have to be clinically clean and spotless, and yes some things like oil bottles and peanut butter jars are a pain and will need a couple of rinses. 

“And you can always be guaranteed to cut your hand rinsing tin cans, however careful you are trying to be!”

Abi says another simple change is getting lids right. 

“People are always confused as a “lid” can be so many different things,” she says. 

“But remember tops off in Central Otago – whether it’s an ice cream container, a wine bottle, a milk bottle or bathroom cleaner spray bottle. These are taken off and go in the red bin.

“The most common simple error I see in recycling bins around the district is soft plastic packaging – again so confusing as sometimes it's marked with a symbol that seems to suggest it should be recyclable.”

However, Abi explains that if any plastic packaging can be scrunched into a ball in your hand it would only be recyclable in the Packaging Forum sponsored Soft Plastic Scheme bins that are in places like supermarkets (and currently only as far south as Christchurch)

“This competition just gives a fun way for people to think about one of those small changes that actually make a big difference.”

Get involved. All the details are here: Rinse Recycle Repeat.