99.8% Pure Bales – What Does It Mean?
WRITTEN BY KATE GISLASON – SUSTAINABILITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD
At EcoCentral, accuracy matters. Every bale of recyclable material that leaves our EcoSort facility is more than just compressed material — it is the product of careful sorting, auditing, and community effort. That is why we are proud to say our bales are 99.8% pure. But what does that actually mean?
Put simply, 99.8% purity means our bales are virtually free of contamination. Each one contains 99.8% of the recyclable material it is meant to — whether that is paper, cardboard, plastics, or metals. This level of precision is critical because it ensures that the materials we send to recycling markets are clean and able to be turned into new products.
The way we measure this is through rigorous audits. To check, our team collects material just prior to it going into the baler after it has been processed through the EcoSort facility. The material is then re-sorted by hand across a separate line, where every piece is checked and categorised. From this process we calculate the exact level of purity — and consistently, it comes in at 99.8%.
Achieving this outcome is no accident. It is the result of world-class sorting technology at the EcoCentral EcoSort, the commitment of our skilled staff, and the effort of Christchurch residents who recycle correctly. Each clean bottle, rinsed can, or flattened box that goes into a yellow bin contributes to that accuracy.
For recycling, this matters enormously. The purer the bale, the more likely it is to be recycled successfully into new products, supporting a strong circular economy. Contamination, by contrast, lowers quality, lowers the value, and risks entire loads being rejected.
By delivering bales of 99.8% purity, EcoCentral is proving that with the right processes, technology, and public engagement, Christchurch can lead the way in recycling outcomes. Together, we are showing what is possible when every step of the process — from the kerbside bin to the final bale — works for the benefit of our planet.
