Nationwide changes to recycling to kick in from 1 February 2024 Copy

 

Recycling rules are about to change through much of the motu from Thursday.

The rules come as part of a new initiative to standardise the recycling service across the country by 2027. The strategy also saw the introduction of food scrap bins.

Four councils, unable to meet the deadline, have until 2027 including Clutha, Hurunui, and Westland District Councils. They will add glass to their collection, while Gore District Council needs to add paper and plastic.

Eight other councils do not have a kerbside collection at all – and the new government has not yet decided whether those councils will be required to provide kerbside recycling by 2027, the ministry said.

The main points of the standardisation for all district and city councils mean, from 1 February:

• Only plastics 1, 2 and 5 will be collected. (If the recycling symbol on a package does not have a number inside, it cannot go in your kerbside bin)
• In addition, you can put glass bottles and jars; paper and cardboard; and aluminium and steel tins and cans (some councils have separate bins for glass)
• Aerosol cans will not be recycled; dispose through your local Transfer Station, metal recycler or in your council roadside rubbish collection
• Liquid paperboard (like Tetra Pak), milk and juice cartons will not be recycled; dispose through your local Community Recycling Centre, Transfer Station or in your council roadside rubbish collection
• Anything less than 50mm x 50mm cannot be recycled
• All lids must be removed and are to be disposed of through the council roadside rubbish collection