Protecting Aotearoa
New Zealand's Waterways

Ko te wai te ora ngā mea kātoa

Water is the life giver of all things

a lighthouse on top of a hill overlooking the ocean
a lighthouse on top of a hill overlooking the ocean

Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) is managed locally by Plastics New Zealand. OCS is an international, industry-led programme helping companies eliminate plastic pellet, flake, and powder loss to the environment.

Here in New Zealand, plastics-handling sites must pass an audit to gain OCS certification. This helps ensure that the correct measures are in place to prevent raw plastics from polluting our precious awa (rivers) and moana (oceans).

No one wants to cause pollution, but accidents happen. Without the proper equipment and procedures in place, spills are easily blown or washed into stormwater drains. These drains connect to natural water systems, and ultimately the moana (ocean).

From Site, to Sea...

Watch to understand how spilled resin flows from site to sea.

All players across the plastics supply chain have a role to play in preventing pollution of our waterways.

What can you do?

Resin handling sites including:

  • Resin Producers

  • Logistics and Warehousing

  • Plastics Manufacturers, Recyclers, and Reprocessors

Resin Handling Sites

can join their local OCS programme, to ensure best practice standards.

blue and white square beads
blue and white square beads

Brand and Retailers

Companies that use plastic packaging and/or products can join us as Supporters, helping to promote OCS NZ by:

  • requesting suppliers to be OCS certified

  • promoting the benefits of the programme through their website and comms.

Partnering Companies

Companies that offer a benefit to OCS NZ, such as:

  • Education

  • Spill clean-up services

  • Spill containment equipment

can join us as Partners to support companies in meeting OCS certification.

OCS NZ Partners 

We are proud to work alongside dedicated Partners who play a critical role in keeping plastic out of our waterways:

OCS NZ Supporters

We invite companies who use plastic packaging and products to join us as Supporters, helping to promote engagement with OCS NZ across the supply chain.