Recycling

Our recycling contractor, Tararua Resource Recovery recycles material for which there is an established market. Although there are other items which could in theory be recycled, the cost involved or the quantity of such items means that at the moment we restrict the range of items for recycling. As technology changes and new markets are identified the range of recyclable items will increase. Some items are very difficult to recycle and it is better to avoid these where possible. Have a look at the Waste Minimisation section for more advice on reducing the amount that you need to throw away.

Like most councils in New Zealand, we recycle Glass, Metals, Paper & Cardboard and Plastic

Glass

ONLY food and drink containers (i.e. bottles and jars) can be recycled at the kerbside or taken to the transfer stations.

Other types of glass such as window glass, light bulbs, drinking glasses, cookware, automotive glass, mirrors, spectacles and are not currently accepted for recycling.

Why? Other glass items are made from glass with a different composition and melting point, even small amounts contaminate the glass making it unsuitable for recycling. If it were reprocessed, the products produced would be cracked or faulty.

What should I do?

Make sure all bottles and jars are rinsed clean of all contents
Remove any lids, corks or stoppers. It is not necessary to remove the labels.
If using the kerbside collection, place the containers into your green recycling bin.
Only glass left in the green bin will be collected, glass in cardboard boxes or bags WILL NOT be collected. Please do not place broken glass in the green bin.

Why? This is for the health and safety of the kerbside collectors who sort the items on route.

If using the drop off points, please sort your containers into green, brown and clear and place in the correctly labeled container. Any other coloured glass can be put in with the brown glass.

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Metals

Aluminium drinks cans and steel & tin food and drink cans are collected at the Kerbside. In addition other metal and items such as used white goods and cars can be accepted at the transfer stations.

What should I do?

Empty the contents and wash out all food containers.

Why? Since the collection takes place once a week left over food or drink can start to putrefy and smell. This can prevent flies, wasps and vermin from being attracted to your green bin. Also for the health and safety of the kerbside collectors who sort the items on route.

It is not necessary to remove the labels, but please push any metal lid inside the container and squash the open end. Squash all drinks containers.

Why? You can get more into your green bin and we can store more on the truck and at the transfer station. Sharp exposed lids can cause a safety problem for the kerbside collectors who sort the items on route.

If using the drop off points, please squash your containers as above, sort them into aluminium and steel and place in the correctly labeled container. Other metals and bulky items should be taken to the scrap metal area.

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Paper

We can recycle paper products such as newspapers, junk mail, magazines, office paper, letters and envelopes, cardboard and boxboard such as greetings cards and cereal boxes, and corrugated cardboard.

What should I do?

Place paper at the bottom of the recycling bin or tie in a bundle and place underneath the bin. Thin card and cereal boxes can be mixed with the paper. For cereal packets please remove any contents and inner plastic bag and flatten them.

Why? Being light, paper and card can cause a litter problem if it is left loose.

Corrugated cardboard boxes, including clean pizza boxes should be opened up and flattened. Tie into bundles and place beside the green bin.

Why? For health and safety reasons unflattened boxes and large quantities of corrugated cardboard can not be collected.

If using the drop off points, please Flatten your boxess as above, place paper and thin card in the correctly labeled container. Corrugated cardboard again should be flattened and placed in the cardboard collection area.

Please note: waxed paper such as washing powder boxes, metalised wrapping paper, milk and egg cartons are not currently recycled.

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Plastic

There are a number of different plastics used for packaging. Usually, but not always there is a recycling arrow and a number somewhere on the package. We can recycle plastics with code numbers 1 and 2, look out for the following symbols.

At the kerbside, we collect bottles of types 1 and 2 and some ice cream containers but not the lids. This includes many juice and soft drink bottles, most bottles for milk, cream and yoghurt (but not yoghurt pots), many household cleaning product bottles and some shampoo bottles.

What should I do?

Check the number and only recycle items with a code 1 or 2. Size, shape or contents of the container does not determine if the container is recyclable only the number.

Why? If different plastics are mixed the batch will be ruined and will need to be dumped.

Remove and discard all lids

Why? Even though they may appear to be the same, some lids are made from a different type of plastic to the rest of the container. If lids are left on, during the bailing process the can fly off at high speed, possibly causing injury to the recycling operators.

Rinse containers to make sure it is empty of its original contents.

Why? Since the collection takes place once a week left over food or drink can start to putrefy and smell. This can prevent flies, wasps and vermin from being attracted to your green bin. Also for the health and safety of the kerbside collectors who sort the items on route.

Squash containers and put into your green bin.

Why? Plastic containers are bulky so squashing them creates more spce in your bin and on the recycling truck.

If using the drop off points, please remove the lid and squash the container as above, place in the correctly labeled container. Other items made from plastics 1 and 2 which are not collected at the kerbside may be taken to the drop of point. But remember to check the number to avoid ruining the batch.

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Waste Management Wairarapa, PO Box 444, Masterton New Zealand

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