Our main offices will be closed Easter Weekend. Refuse collection will not take place on Good Friday, 29 March. Areas, where refuse is collected on Fridays, will instead have collections on Saturday, 30 March. This affects the Te Teko, Edgecumbe, Poroporo and White Pine Bush areas. Refuse will be collected on all other days as normal.
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Recycling FAQs

 

What can I put in my yellow-lid bin?

  • Plastics graded 1, 2 and 5
  • Cardboard (including empty pizza boxes)
  • Paper
  • Tins
  • Cans

What can’t I put in my yellow-lid recycling bin?

  • Plastics graded 3, 4, 6 and 7
  • Compostable packaging and containers 
  • Nappies and sanitary products 
  • Lids for bottles and containers 
  • Fabric and clothing 
  • Soft plastics 
  • Polystyrene 
  • E-waste 
  • Coffee cups and lids 
  • Aerosols 

I need another glass recycling crate. How do I get one?

You can have up to three glass crates per service; each additional or replacement crate has a one-off charge of $20. These can be purchased from the Refuse Transfer Station, 60 Te Tahi Street, Whakatāne and at the Murupara Service Centre, Pine Drive, Murupara.

Do I need to separate my recyclables?

Yes. You have a crate for your glass bottles and jars and a yellow lid bin for all your other recyclables (paper, cardboard, tins, cans, plastics). Please remove all lids from your bottles and jars; if they are recyclable, you can put them in the yellow lid bin.

Find out more about what can and can't go in your recycling bins.

What is the sticker I found on my recycling crate or bin?

A sticker left on your recycling crate or bin means the item(s) are not recyclable or have been placed in the wrong crate/bin. Non-recyclable items include ceramics, cloth and other items. It may also mean that the recycling has been placed out for collection in a way that makes it unsafe or contains dangerous materials for the contractor (for example, broken glass).

What do I do with my paper and cardboard boxes?

Paper and flattened cardboard boxes should be placed in your yellow lid bin.

What plastics can I recycle?

You can recycle plastics graded 1, 2 and 5. These can be placed in your yellow-lid bin. Look for a triangle (usually on the bottom) with a number in it. If you see a triangle with a number the number 1, 2 or 5 on it, pop it in the yellow-lid bin. Please rinse any products from your plastics before placing them in the bin.

What are grade 5 plastics?

Grade 5 plastics usually include ice cream, margarine and large yoghurt containers. Always check the number in the triangle on the bottom of the container.

Why can't I recycle lids?

Lids are too small to be separated by machinery at the recycling plants. Sorting machinery can also mistake flat lids for paper, which then contanimates paper recycling.

Can I recycle plant pots?

Some plant pots are graded 5 and some aren’t, but they can look identical. Plant pots are mainly black. Black plastic isn't recognised by optical sorters, so they end up not being recycled. Your local Bunnings and Mitre 10 stores will accept black plant pots for recycling.

Can I recycle plastic bags?

No, unfortunately you can no longer place plastic bags into the recycling bins. You are encouraged to reuse them where possible or use the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme.

The Packaging Forum's Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme lets New Zealanders recycle plastic bags and wrappers. What do you need to do to recycle soft plastic packaging? Collect your soft plastic packaging, make sure the bags are clean, empty and dry and drop them into the Soft Plastics Recycling bins Countdown Whakatāne or New World Whakatāne.

Find out more about the Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme »

How well do I need to rinse my recycling?

A quick scrub out in cold water is enough.

Do I need to take the labels off my cans and containers before recycling?

No, you don’t need to for most items. There is machinery that removes labels at the processing facility. 

Should I take the lids off my food tins? 

Either leave the lid attached and fold it into the can, or place removed lids inside the can and squeeze the can shut securely.

Are aerosols a health and safety hazard? 

When not completely empty, aerosols can explode under pressure and cause fires at recycling facilities. Some aerosols contain poisonous contents such as insecticides and automotive sprays. Staff at recycling facilities may be exposed to these contents when aerosols are damaged or crushed for baling. 

Can I recycle my unwanted electronic waste? (computer screens, old computer components, etc)

Yes, but not through the kerbside recycling service. To recycle electronic waste (computers and screens), please take them to Community Resources Whakatāne. A small fee may apply for recycling these items.

What happens to my recycling?  

Check out this great video from the Ministry for the Environment that explains what happens to your plastics recycling.