Recycling is free and the more you recycle, the less rubbish goes to landfill.
Guide to recycling kerbside
If you put non-recyclable items or contaminated product (with food or waste) in your recycling bin, collectors will leave them behind and may not collect everything.
3 simple steps for recycling:
- Keep it clean - rinse or scrub items to remove food scraps
- Remove lids - lids go in the rubbish
- No rubbish - only recyclable items belong in the recycling bin
Recycling right
Plastics - grades 1, 2 and 5 only
✅ Accepted:
- milk, soft drink, water and juice bottles
- shampoo, detergent and cleaning product bottles
- ice cream, yoghurt and deli food containers
📌Remove lids and place in the rubbish bin
📌Rinse plastics clean and squash if possible
❌ Not accepted:
- plastic grades 3, 4, 6, 7 or no symbols
- plastic bags, wrapping, polystyrene meat trays, packaging, bubble wrap, toys
Lids aren't recyclable - even if they're made from recyclable plastics grades 1, 2 or 5.
Why? because their small size and shape can cause issues during the sorting process at the recycling facility. They fall through the machinery, mixing with other materials and cause contamination in the recycling stream.
Please place all lids - regardless of the number, in your general rubbish bin.
Paper
✅ Accepted:
- newspaper, magazines, magazines
- cardboard - flattened
❌ Not accepted:
- tetrapak cartons
- takeaway cups
Glass
✅ Accepted:
- glass bottles and jars
📌Remove lids and place in the rubbish bin
❌ Not accepted:
- broken glass, light bulbs, mirrors, cookware, pyrex, crockery
Aluminum and tin
✅ Accepted:
- clean aluminum and tin cans
❌ Not accepted:
- pots, pans, car parts, mixed media
What not to put in your recycling crate
🚫 Hazardous items: batteries, gas bottles, chemicals, ash, paint.
🚫 Clothing and textiles, shoes, fabrics
📌Always remove lids from recycling - lids go in the rubbish bin.

Can I use any type of bin?
A Council-approved recycling bin is required. If your property doesn’t have one, you can purchase a bin from us.
Sorting and preparing your recycling bin
✅ Keep it clean – wash, squash and sort your recycling. No food residue—contaminated items won't be collected.
✅ Pack & Stack – don't overfill. No items should stick out above the top of the bin—overfilled bins won't be collected.
✅ Flatten paper and cardboard – bundle securely under the bin (max 1m x 1m).
Collection limits
Maximum 2 bins per property – If using 2, place all glass items in one bin.
Extra recycling?
You can take extra glass and recyclables to the drop-off centre at 75 Innes Street or your rural transfer station.
Moving house?
Leave your recycling bin for the next occupiers.
Where to buy a recycling bin
- Each property can put out 2 recycling bins.
- Buy a bin from our customer service counter for $20 each.
- Renters: If your property doesn’t have a bin, contact your landlord or agent.
- Built a new house: Sign up for kerbside collection at customer service to receive your stickers and bin.
- Take care of your bin - avoid leaving it out too long after collection.
When is recycling collected?
- Check your kerbside collection day to find out when recycling is picked up.
- Make sure your bin is kerbside before 7am on collection day.
Help reduce waste going to landfill
Are you recycling right?
Too many recyclable items end up in landfill because they're contaminated with food. Watch the video to learn how small changes - like rinsing containers - can make a big difference. It also covers how our shopping choices help reduce waste.
Rethink waste education centre
Tairāwhiti Environment Centre, 386 Palmerston Road
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9am - 3pm Ph (06) 867 4708
You can buy Bokashi Zing from the environment centre.
Free recycling drop off for these items at the centre:
Soft plastics
Mobile phones
Toner and ink cartridges
Metal bottle caps

Soft plastics
Mobile phones
Toner and ink cartridges
Metal bottle caps
Soft plastics
Mobile phones
Toner and ink cartridges
Metal bottle caps
Search items to recycle, reuse, upcycle, repurpose
Household batteries
- Tairāwhiti Environment Centre has free recycling drop off of any household batteries including hearing aid and tool batteries.
- You can also pick up free batteries that have been tested and still have life in them.
Vehicle battery
Take to:
- Gisborne Autoelectrics 159 Carnarvon Street
- Metalco Recyclers 223 Stanley Road
- Bensons Auto Electrical, 160 Kahutia Street
You can donate knitting wool to:
- Charitable organisations and church groups
- Kindergartens, childcare centres, schools and kōhanga reo
- Rest homes
- Kerbside recycling collection - steel and aluminium cans
- Waste Management NZ Ltd recycling depot 75 Innes Street
- Schools and church groups may collect aluminium cans or can tabs as fundraisers
- Metalco Recyclers 223 Stanley Road
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