Recycling

Minimising waste

Council actively supports reducing the amount of waste that is sent to the landfill by providing a kerbside recycling collection to all households. Each household is entitled to one recycling bin.

We also encourage and support waste reduction practices and activities to lessen the impact of rubbish disposal on the environment.

What's recyclable - what's not?

Glass

• Yes: Whole bottles and jars - with lids removed
• No: Window glass, light bulbs, crystal, ceramics/pottery, drinking glasses, broken glass.

Plastic

• Yes: All plastics marked '1' or '2' can be recycled (except containers of motor oil, please see below). Maximum size of 4 litres for all plastic containers. Plastic bottles need to be rinsed, and if possible squashed flat with lids replaced, to reduce volume within the recycle bin
• No: Plastic bags. Plastic bottles that contained motor oil, even if they are marked with a '1' or '2', as the oil contaminates the plastic and is difficult to clean off. Plastic containers larger than 4 litres can not be collected at kerb side as they take up to much space in the truck.

Metal

• Yes: Aluminium drink cans, clean foil plates, steel food cans. If possible please squash cans flat to reduce volume.

Household whiteware

• Yes: but not for kerb side collection
• Cookers, fridges, dishwashers etc. can be taken to the Re:Sort centre or any transfer station, except Parua Bay. A charge of $6 is applied to fridges, freezers and LPG bottles as these items require de-gassing.

Empty aerosols

• Yes

Paper and cardboard

• Yes: Newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, flattened cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, cartons, old phone books - tie in a bundle or if more convenient place in plastic bag or cardboard box
• No: Plastic coated paper and card - for example, cardboard milk and juice containers.

Collection routes

Information on the collection days for your particular location can be found by following the links below.

Urban collection route map [311kb]
Rural collection route map [748kb]

How recycling works

During the week, collect the recyclable waste and place in your official recycle bin.  On rubbish day, put your recycle bin out near the kerb, alongside your rubbish bag. The rubbish and recycling must be put out before 7:30am on the day of collection.

To reduce wind blown litter please tie paper and cardboard into a bundle or if more convenient place in a plastic carrier bag or cardboard box. The box should be tied or taped shut and be no bigger than the recycle bin itself. The bundle, bag or box can then be put out next to the recycling bin at kerb side ready for collection.

Separate trucks will come by. The rubbish truck will take away the rubbish. The recycling truck will take away the recyclables, and leave the empty bin for you to start filling again for next week's collection. Due to the extra volumes in the urban areas of the city, a third truck is used to collect the paper and cardboard for recycling.

There is no charge for recycling either at the gate or if you take your recyclable goods to a transfer station or the Re:Sort Centre.

From time to time you may produce more recycling than can fit into a standard Council approved bin. If this is the case, please store the excess until the next week’s collection or alternatively you can take it to a Transfer Station or Re-Sort.

Unfortunately we can only collect recyclable material placed in the official Council bins. Please do not put excess into cardboard boxes or plastic bags as this extra volume cannot be collected. Any extra volume collected along the route may result in the truck returning to base to empty which creates delay for outer laying communities.

Note that your recycle bin belongs to your property. If you move house, please leave it behind for the next occupants.

What happens to the recycled waste?

All the recycled waste collected is reused. A brief summary of how the different types of recycled waste is utilised is shown below.

• cardboard is sent to a mill in South Waikato for processing
• paper goes to an Auckland mill to become newsprint etc.
• glass is recycled in an Auckland plant which converts the old glass into new bottles
• tin cans and all plastics are transported together to Auckland where they are separated before being sent on for recycling. Tin cans to an Auckland company, plastics to a certified overseas company.

What if I don’t have a recycling bin?

If your bin has been damaged, stolen or you have moved into a property where no bin has been left, you can pick up a new one at our Customer Service Centres located at Ruakaka and central Whangarei. If you are not able to visit in person, a friend or neighbour can pick up for you. If your bin is damaged please bring it in when picking up the new one so we can recycle it. Replacement bins are free of charge.

What if my recycling box wasn't collected?

To assist our contractor the rubbish and recycling must be put out before 7:30am on the day of collection.

If your bin was not collected during the normal run, please contact us as soon as possible so our contractor can arrange for the recycle bin to be empted.

• If you contact us before 12 noon your ​recycling will be collected by 5pm the same day.
• If you contact us after 12 noon it will be collected by 5pm the next working day. 

Second Hand Sunday

Second-Hand Sunday is a free community event where you have the chance to give away items you no longer need at your gate.

This annual event is generally held around Labour Day weekend. To take part in Second-Hand Sunday you will need to register with us prior to the event. All participating addresses will be advertised in the Whangarei Leader and on this web site.

The registration form will be available on this web site closer to the event.

Contact us

Council offices - locations and hours of opening