Road cones. New Zealanders love to hate them. But until recently, when they wore out, they went straight to landfill. RTL decided to change that — and built the country's first fully closed-loop cone recycling programme to prove it.

Road cones are one of New Zealand's most visible — and most complained about — pieces of infrastructure. Media coverage, talkback radio, and even politicians regularly weigh in on the sheer number of them lining our roads. But love them or loathe them, they serve a vital purpose: protecting road workers and the public during maintenance and infrastructure projects.

The real problem isn't the cones themselves. It's what happens to them when they're damaged, worn out, or forgotten. Until recently, the answer for most cones was simple and wasteful — landfill.

RTL decide ...