Recycling Information
Kerbside recycling collections
Please put only the following recyclables in your kerbside recycling bins.
In your yellow lid recycling bin:
- Plastic bottles, trays and containers numbered 1, 2 and 5
- Paper and cardboard (including pizza boxes)
- Food and drink tins and cans
In your blue crate:
- Glass bottles and jars
Household kerbside recycling has been standardised across Aotearoa New Zealand from 1 February 2024, led by the Ministry for the Environment.
What goes where?
Recycling tips
Kerbside recycling was standardised because collecting the same materials nationwide makes it easier for everyone to put items in the right bin, no matter where they are in New Zealand.
It also helps businesses to design and manufacture packaging they know can be recycled from anywhere in the country. Recycling facilities can recycle more, since the quality of the materials they receive will improve.
How to prepare items for recycling:
- Take off plastic lids to dispose in your rubbish bin, and fold food tin lids into the can or place inside and squeeze shut
- Rinse out any dirty items - a quick scrub out in cold water is enough. Save time by rinsing your recycling while you’re doing your dishes
- Sort your items into the right bins.
You don't need to remove product labels, apart from on plastic drink bottles with large sleeves. Plastic lids should not go in your recycling as they are too small to be separated by machinery at recycling plants.
Let's avoid recycling contamination
Recycling contamination comes from:
- Any items which are not on the list above of ‘what can be recycled’
- Any items (including recyclables) which are very dirty or still have food or product in them
- Recyclable items which have been put into the wrong bin, for example a glass container which has been put into the yellow-lid bin.
Why does contamination matter?
Contamination can damage or dirty recyclable items and prevent them from being able to be sold and re-used. The huge volume of items our recycling services receive every day mean it’s just not possible for processing staff to pick things out and wash them manually, particularly when material has been caked in over a period of days or weeks! Damaged or soiled items also create safety risks for processing staff and equipment.
Some of the most common contamination items found in our recycling collections include:
- Dirty items – recyclable items with food or liquid still in them, oily paper or cardboard, used nappies
- Soft plastics – cling film, plastic bags, bubble wrap, zip lock bags, foil chip packets
- Single use coffee and drink cups – these can look like cardboard but usually have a plastic lining
- Liquid paperboard (e.g. Tetra Pak) – long-life milk, almond milk or liquid stock packaging
- Polystyrene (e.g. Styrofoam)– appliance packaging, packaging ‘peanuts’, takeaway containers
Reducing the level of contamination in recycling streams is very important in lowering the cost of recycling for everyone and maximising the amount of recyclables that can be turned into new items.
Help your whānau learn what to recycle and what not with our downloadable recycling colouring sheet. (PNG, 1MB)
Why can't I recycle plant pots?
Some plant pots are plastic #5 and some aren’t but they can look identical. Plant pots are mainly black. Black plastic can’t be recognised by optical sorters so they end up not being recycled. The NZ Plant Producers Institute is working on how best to increase the reusability and recyclability of plant pots and recover them for recycling.
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.
What happens to my recycling?
Visit environment.govt.nz/recycle for detailed information on what happens to your recycling.
Why can't we recycle other plastics?
Plastics numbered 3, 4, 6 and 7 are not currently able to be recycled via our kerbside collections as these plastics are difficult to recycle and low in value. New Zealand does not have the required infrastructure to process large volumes of these onshore and there are limited opportunities in offshore markets. Other countries produce and use more of these plastic types and already saturate what has become a limited and controlled market for trade and recycling of these materials.
Many product and packaging companies are moving toward using plastics 1, 2 and 5 because of their higher recyclability and value. You can help support this change by buying fewer products made from hard to recycle plastics.
There are some material programmes separate to Council collections which can collect and recycle amounts of these materials, for example, Soft Plastics Recycling. Check these out online to find out more.
What can help me identify whether something is recyclable?
Metals are usually easy to identify – if it is a food tin or drink can, it will be recyclable.
Papers and cardboards are often easy as well, but just watch out for composite materials. This means paper or cardboard products which also have plastic or aluminium layers. Examples of these are drink or milk cartons, powdered drink or formula cans. These layers cannot be separated easily and therefore are not suitable for kerbside recycling. Gift wrap is usually not suitable for recycling as it can contain plastics. An exception to this, and good alternative, is brown kraft wrap.
When checking plastics, look only for the plastic identification code. This will be a small triangle with a number inside, usually on the packaging itself or on the label. If the number is a 1, 2 or 5 the item is recyclable via your kerbside bin. If you cannot find the identification symbol, it is better to put this item in your rubbish bin as likely it is a mixed plastic and not suitable for recycling.
Many people will recognise and look for the recycling mobius – but it is important to note that this is an international symbol indicating only that some part of an item may be recyclable but that it depends on the processes and markets available to different countries and areas. This is not a useful symbol for determining whether something can go into your kerbside recycling collection.
This factsheet from Plastics New Zealand provides more information on plastic types.
If you have any questions or would like support with your recycling, get in touch with recycling@rotorualc.nz.
Learn more about recycling
Rotorua Lakes Council can provide presentations or workshops to support groups and individuals in understanding recycling information and processes. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch with recycling@rotorualc.nz.
