Taranaki schools lead the way in Milk Top Challenge.

A fantastic community effort has seen tamariki from 25 schools across the region collect an incredible 199,579 plastic milk bottle tops as part of the Taranaki Milk Top Challenge – Te Taki Taupoki Miraka o Taranaki.

Led by council Waste Minimisation and Sustainability teams, the campaign invited schools to compete in collecting milk bottle tops—small but significant plastic items that often contaminate kerbside recycling and end up in landfill if not properly handled.

South Taranaki District Council Environmental and Sustainability Manager Cindy Koen says the initiative has been a great success diverting 360 kilograms of plastic from ending up in landfill while also educating our students that even the smallest items can have a big impact when it comes to waste. “The Taranaki Milk Top Challenge is a fantastic example of how collaboration between councils, schools, and communities can lead to real environmental outcomes. It’s inspiring to see our young people leading the way in waste reduction. It really proves that small actions, when taken together, can create real change,” says Koen.

The collected tops will be processed by Egmont Refuse and Recycling. Residents can continue to drop off milk bottle tops at Egmont Refuse and Recycling in Hāwera and The Junction in New Plymouth.

To celebrate the collective effort, each district honoured its top-performing schools. Huiakama School in Stratford took out the overall win, collecting an impressive 412 tops per student.

New Plymouth District

1. Waitara Central School – 96 tops per student
2. Waitara East School – 80 tops per student
3. St Joseph’s School Waitara – 72 tops per student

South Taranaki District

1. Manaia School – 140 tops per student
2. Normanby Primary School – 71 tops per student
3. St Joseph’s Hawera – 65 tops per student

Stratford District

1. Huiakama School – 412 tops per student
2. Stratford Community Childcare Centre – 45 tops per student
3. Avon Kindergarten – 44 tops per student

Given the overwhelming response from schools, whānau and the wider community, the Taranaki Milk Top Challenge will return as an annual event, jointly supported by the three district councils.

“Let’s keep the momentum going,” says Koen. “Reach out to your local school, get collecting—and remember: every milk top counts toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.”