WHAT CAN YOU PUT OUT?
What you can and cannot put out for inorganic collection.
Accepted
- Large appliances – fridges, freezers, washing machines and ovens
- Small appliances – kettles, irons and vacuum cleaners
- Furniture – beds, couches, chairs, kitchen items and ornaments
- Sporting items – gym equipment, bicycles and toys
- Renovation equipment – carpet, timber (nails and/or other sharp items attached to timber must either be removed or flattened), tools, fixtures and fittings, bathroom-ware (excluding toilet bowls)
- Outdoor items – lawnmowers, barbecues, garden tools and outdoor furniture (does not include any concrete items)
- Electronics – TVs, computers, phones and DVD players
Not accepted
- Bags of rubbish (including items contained in Flexi-bags)
- Recyclable packaging
- Polystyrene
- Garden waste – grass clippings, tree and hedge trimmings
- Automotive and boating items – of any kind (e.g: tyres, parts, seats, engines, car audio systems)
- Building and trade waste – plaster board, rubble, tiles, concrete and bricks
- Any type of concrete, porcelain or ceramic items (e.g: planter pots, umbrella bases, paving stones, toilet bowls)
- Glass – of any kind
- Clothing – of any kind
- Liquids – oil, petrol, paint and chemicals
- Hazardous waste – poisons, batteries and medical waste
- Asbestos – Fibrolite, floor coverings (made of asbestos), lagging and ceiling coating
- Gas cylinders – CNG or LPG containers
- Weapons – of any kind (e.g: swords, guns)
For information about how to dispose of items we don't collect, see transfer stations or our recycling search.
OTHER DISPOSAL OPTIONS
Why not consider selling, giving away or donating unwanted items directly? Here are some ideas.
- Ask family or friends if they would like your unwanted items or use a community Facebook group to offer items to others in your neighbourhood.
- There are online networks that connect people giving items away with those who want them. Check out websites like freecycle.org.
- You could sell or swap items through a second-hand store, an online auction site, or work together with your neighbours to host a community garage sale.
- Charity shops (sometimes called op shops) accept donations of some items in resellable condition. They sell these items to raise money for their cause. Please check with your local charity store if they are currently accepting donations and if they only take items for donation during the store's opening hours.
- Recycler.org.nz lists companies that recycle things like batteries, building materials, metals and more. Fees may apply.
- Some companies offer end-of-life disposal schemes for things like paint or oil – click here to learn more.
