Ongoing issues with people putting things that don’t belong in their greenwaste collection has prompted Whakatāne District Council to issue a plea to residents – let’s get it right.

All greenwaste collected via kerbside bins and delivered to the Whakatāne and Murupara Transfer Stations is recycled into high-quality compost. This model has significant environmental benefits because it reduces the amount of waste going to landfill, and creates valuable fertiliser. However, if non-compostable items are included in the collection, the entire load is compromised and potentially dumped. 

Manager Solid Waste, Nigel Clarke, says the level of contamination has worsened recently and wants to remind people about what can and can’t be included in their greenwaste collection. 

“Contaminants can lead to increased processing costs, the need for additional resources to sort and remove unwanted materials, and an undesirable compost product. Nobody wants compost with bits of rubbish in it. Contaminated compost can introduce harmful substances into our soil, affecting plant growth and overall environmental health,” he explains. “It’s really important we all get it right so the process runs as it should.”

Although some people have attempted to include obvious household rubbish in their greenwaste, such as old gumboots and concrete blocks, there are several items that could be genuinely mistaken. 

“It might be tempting to throw all your garden waste into the greenwaste bin, but there are some exceptions,” says Mr Clarke. “Fibrous leaves like flax and yucca don’t break down as quickly as other plants, which affects the composting process. The same rule applies to branches and logs – they need to be less than 10cm in diameter to fit through the machinery.”

Whakatāne District Council is also offering free reusable produce bags to align with the central government phase-out of single-use plastics. These are available to collect from the Customer Service Centre at 14 Commerce Street, Whakatāne or the Murupara Service Centre, while stock lasts.

What can be included in greenwaste collection
Lawn clippings, weeds, leaves (excluding flax), old plants and soft prunings. 

What can’t be included in greenwaste collection
Fibrous plants (including flax, palms and yucca), timber and logs over 10cm in diameter, tree stumps, soil or dirt and general rubbish or recyclables. 

More information about local greenwaste collection can be found on our website.