Recycling

If recyclable materials are separated at home by recycling, residents save money and help the city to achieve its waste minimisation goals.

Introduction

Reducing and managing your rubbish helps reduce current and future costs to the city and its ratepayers. It also reduces demands on the environment and natural resources and reduces the amount of material taken to landfills.

Recycling collection

A recycling collection service, for recyclable items and paper, is provided each fortnight on the same day as the household refuse collection.

• Household recycling collection
• Recycling for commercial premises

Contact us to find out the collection day in your area or if your recycling was missed by the collector.

Household recycling collection

A recycling collection service is provided on the same day as the rubbish collection on a fortnightly basis, the recyclables collected being glass bottles and jars, #1, #2 , #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 plastic bottles/containers, aluminium and tin cans (from your blue recycling bin) and paper/cardboard placed next to your recycling bin.

Steel jar lids are also collected (please unscrew them from the jar and place them in the recycling bin).

In March 2008, Waitakere City Council expanded the range of plastic products that it will accept in recycling bins. Most plastics bottles/containers grades 1-7 such as ice cream containers, yoghurt tubs, cooking oil containers and detergent bottles can now be placed in your recycling bin. Please look for a number from 1 to 7 inside the recycling triangle.

There are a few exceptions to be aware of, eg. motor oil containers, plastic film, plastic bags, expanded polystyrene products such as meat trays and polystyrene packaging. These items should be disposed of in your rubbish bag.

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Your Guide to Rubbish and Recycling at Home (Size 437K)

Placement of recycling bins for collection

If possible, please place your recycling bins so that it will not become a footpath obstruction for people pushing prams and using walking frames or mobility scooters.

If there is a suitable area (eg. grass verge) to place your recycling bin without blocking the footpath, please use it.

Please note that the recycling truck loading arm has a long reach and has been designed to pick up between parked vehicles.

Commercial recycling collection

A recycling collection service is available to businesses free of charge.

For businesses that generate recycling as a result of their business activity, recycling collections should be purchased privately.  For example, if you own a cafe and you generate a large amount of plastic milk bottles as a result of your business, this is considered trade waste and you should make arrangements with a private contractor to recycle this trade waste.  Please refer to the Yellow Pages under 'Recycling'.

Frequently Asked Questions for the Recycling Service for Businesses

How do I order a new bin?

You need to fill out a request for a new recycling bin form.  You can download one below or one can be sent to you. Once we receive the completed form, a bin will be delivered within 7 days.

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Order Form (Size 44K)

Can I have more than 1 bin?

Yes, you can. The number of bins allocated to a business will be determined by a Waste Minimisation Officer and will be broadly based on the number employees at a particular property. Each business will be assessed on a case by case basis. Please state on the form that you want more than one bin and state the number of employees at your address.

How often are the bins emptied?

The bins are serviced once a fortnight.

When do I put the bins out?

If your business is in the CBD, you place your bin out just before 6 pm fortnightly on a Tuesday.  Please note that the recycling weeks are printed on the Council rubbish bags.

If your business is located outside the CBD, you place your bin out by 7.30 am the same day as the residential recycling collection in your area. 

Paper and cardboard will be collected from the Commercial Business Districts (CBD) every Tuesday after 6pm.

Paper and cardboard from commercial premises outside the CBD will be collected fortnightly on the same day as the residential recycling collection in their area. Please note that the paper and cardboard must be out by 7.30 am in these areas.

Almost all the paper and cardboard collected from commercial premises is generated as a result of the business ie trade waste. Council is not required to pick up trade waste. If your business generates a large volume of paper/cardboard from your business, you should make arrangements with a private contractor. Please refer to the Yellow Pages under "Recycling".

See table below for geographic boundaries of the CBDs:

What if my bin is stolen or damaged?

Any stolen bin will be replaced free of charge. Any damaged bin will be repaired or replaced free of charge.

Mobile Recycling Bins

As part of both Waitakere City Council and North Shore City Council's adoption of the Zero Waste strategy (with the objective of reducing the amount of waste going to landfill) a new waste and recycling contract  started on 1 July 2005. This resulted in a number of changes in the collection system - some of which were the first of their kind in New Zealand. Waitakere City Council and North Shore City Council have combined in this contract and as well as continuing to provide the normal residential refuse collection service, Onyx also service the mobile recycling bins (wheelie bins) in both cities.

Summary of Waste Services

Residential rubbish - pre-paid bag collection - Council provides a weekly rubbish collection service for residents.  The prepaid Council bags must be used. The contractor will not collect other types of bags.

Commercial rubbish - pre-paid bag collection - Rubbish collected from commercial properties every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday after 6pm.  The prepaid Council bags must be used.

Recycling Collection - Recycling is collected fortnightly from a 140 or 240 litre blue wheelie bin with a yellow lid.  Recycling such as plastic, glass and cans may be placed in the recycling bin.

Paper and Cardboard Collection - your paper and cardboard will be also collected once a fortnight on the same day that your mobile recycling bin is serviced. These items should be left outside in a bag or tied with twine and placed next to your mobile recycling bin.

Inorganic Collection - From 2008/09 the inorganic rubbish collection will change.  The changes have not been finalised.  Please keep an eye on our website for updates.

Why did Waitakere City Council introduce mobile recycling bins?

A 14 week trial, carried out by North Shore City Council in 2003 produced excellent results and was well received by residents participating in the trial. The mobile recycling bin achieved an 11% reduction in waste to landfill and in addition the average refuse bag weight dropped by 25% and the average number of bags set out each week decreased by 14%. Both NSCC and WCC have adopted Zero Waste as their strategy and are working collaboratively to achieve these objectives. It was considered that the introduction of the mobile recycling bins will help Waitakere City Council to meet its Zero Waste targets.

Also, the green bin which was introduced in 1992 had reached capacity in many households and did not allow for further growth. In February 2000 a proposal was considered in the Annual Plan deliberations to replace the 45 litre green bin with a 70 litre bin. For financial reasons the Council elected at that time not to upgrade the bin and to revisit the issue in the near future. However, the current OSH guidelines recommend that manual collectors should not subject to lifting in excess of 15kg. The weight of a green bin filled with glass bottles exceeds that recommendation and with the refuse contract up for renewal it was felt that the time was right for change.

What are the benefits of using a mobile recycling bin?

It is easier to contain all recycling in one bin with a lid and the mobile recycling bin reduces the amount of wind blown litter both before and during the collection.

Mobile recycling bins encourage recycling and provide a much larger capacity for collecting items. This has lead to a decrease in the amount that is placed in rubbish bags, and hence customers need to purchase fewer bags.

The use of mobile recycling bins also improves the health and safety standards of the collection both for the resident when handling the container and for the refuse collector who will no longer have to lift heavy bins.

The collection of the mobile recycling bins is fully automated.  Recycling collectors are no longer sorting on the street which means a decrease in spillage and broken glass on the roadway.

Mobile recycling bins on wheels mean are a lot easier to manoeuvre, there is minimal lifting required by the resident and the sturdy design means it is less likely to break.

The 140 litre mobile recycling bins have a similar sized base to the green bin that is currently used. It will take not take up any more room on the kerb than the current bins.

The Waitakere City Council logo is stamped on the bin and the bin will also display your individual house number.

I am elderly, will I find it difficult to move the mobile recycling bin?

The weight of the bin is carried by the axle of the wheels rather than residents' backs.  The new system should prove to be much easier and safer to move from a health and safety point of view.

What do I do with my paper and cardboard?

Paper and cardboard should be placed next to the mobile recycling bin in a plastic bag or securely bundled.

The mobile recycling bins are only for glass bottles and jars, plastic containers (marked 1 & 7), steel and aluminium cans.

What happens if I have too much recycling to fit in the bin?

One bin will be issued per rateable premises, however if for any reason a resident does have an excess of recycling, they should store it and save it for the next collection day or request a larger bin. Sorted recyclables may also be brought to the Refuse Station for recycling. There is no charge for disposal.  

Residents should not put out any other type of crate or bin as the contents will not be collected.

Where should I put my mobile recycling bin?

The mobile recycling bin should be stored on your property at all times, except during the collection. Please place out on the kerbside, no later than 7.30am on the day of the collection. The mobile recycling bin should be returned to resident's property promptly after the collection.

What happens if my bin gets stolen or vandalised?

If the bin gets vandalised or stolen, it will be replaced at no cost to the resident.

What happens if I am in a multi-unit premises, is it the same arrangement?

Multi unit dwellings, if individually rated, are entitled to one mobile recycling bin per property. In circumstances of limited storage space or an excessive amount of bins being placed on the street, the council may consider a larger mobile recycling bin for communal use.

What if other people dump rubbish in my recycling bin?

As with any receptacle that is left on the street for too long, your mobile recycling bin will attract other people’s rubbish. Please ensure mobile recycling bins are put out no earlier than the night before the collection and return to your property as soon as possible after the collection. The less time it is on the street, the less chance there is for rubbish to find its way into the bin.

Mobile Recycling Bin Collection Dates

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Mobile Recycling Fortnightly Collection Calendar (Size 223K)