WasteMate is an independent service and is not affiliated with any council. Always confirm local rules with your council. Report an error.
How to dispose of anything — A to Z
229 everyday items, and what to actually do with each one in New Zealand. Rules vary between councils, so each guide gives the national standard and links you to your own council for the local detail.
Browse by where it goes
Kerbside recycling (49)
Goes in your recycling bin — check your council for which plastics are accepted locally.
AA/AAA Alkaline Battery · Aluminum Can (soda, beer) · Aluminum Foil (clean) · Aluminum Foil (dirty) · Biscuit Tray (plastic) · Book (paperback) · Bubble Wrap · Butchers Paper · Car Battery · Cardboard Box · Cardboard Tube (toilet roll) · Cell Phone / Smartphone
Compost or food & garden bin (17)
Breaks down — compost at home, or use a council food/garden bin where one is offered.
Coffee Grounds · Compostable Coffee Cup · Compostable Cutlery · Cooked Food Leftovers · Corks (natural) · Eggshells · Fish Bones · Flower Bouquets · Food Scraps (uncooked fruit/veg) · Grass Clippings · Leaves and Weeds · Oyster Shells
General waste (101)
No recycling or composting route in New Zealand — this belongs in the rubbish bin.
Aerosol Can (empty) · Aluminum Pet Food Tray · Baking Paper · Bed Sheets / Linens · Blister Packs (pills) · Book (hardcover) · Bottle Cap · Bread Bag · Broken Christmas Lights · Broken Drinking Glass · Broken Terracotta Pot · Candle Wax
Drop-off point (21)
Not collected at the kerb — take it to a site or shop that accepts it.
Bricks · Cables and Cords · Carpet · Chip Packet · Concrete · Digital Camera · DVD Player · Gas Bottle / Canister · Hard Drive · Household Batteries · Keyboard · Old Pot/Pan
Hazardous waste (21)
Never put this in a kerbside bin — it needs specialist handling.
9V Battery · Ammonia · Asbestos · Brake Fluid · Button Battery (watches) · Car Wax · CFL Light Bulb · Engine Oil · Expired Medicine · Fire Extinguisher · Flares · Lithium-Ion Battery (laptops, phones)
Special collection (20)
Too big or awkward for a bin — booked collection, drop-off, or a private service.
Asphalt Shingles · Children's Car Seat · Cooking Oil · Doors · Furniture (upholstered) · Hair Dryer · Headphones / Earbuds · Insulation · Light Fixtures · Mattress · Microwave · Power Tool
Every item, A to Z
A
B
C
- Cables and Cords
- Candle Wax
- Canvas Bag
- Car Air Freshener
- Car Battery
- Car Wax
- Cardboard Box
- Cardboard Tube (toilet roll)
- Carpet
- CD/DVD Case
- Cell Phone / Smartphone
- Ceramic Mug/Plate (broken)
- Cereal Box
- CFL Light Bulb
- Children's Car Seat
- Chip Packet
- Chocolate Bar Wrapper
- Cigarette Butts
- Cling Film / Saran Wrap
- Coffee Cup (paper)
- Coffee Grounds
- Compostable Coffee Cup
- Compostable Cutlery
- Computer Monitor
- Concrete
- Contact Lens Case
- Cooked Food Leftovers
- Cooking Oil
- Corks (natural)
- Corks (plastic)
- Cosmetic Jars
- Curtains
D
E
F
G
H
L
M
P
- Paint (oil-based)
- Paint (water-based)
- Paint Can (empty, dry)
- Paper Egg Carton
- Paper Shopping Bag
- Paper Towel
- Pens and Pencils
- Pesticides / Herbicides
- Pet Fur
- Pet Waste
- Pillows
- Pizza Box (oily)
- Plasterboard / Drywall
- Plastic Cutlery
- Plastic Drink Bottle (PET #1)
- Plastic Film (from packaging)
- Plastic Hangers
- Plastic Plant Pot
- Plastic Shopping Bag
- Plastic Straw
- Plastic Takeaway Container (PP #5)
- Polystyrene Cup
- Pool Chemicals
- Post-it Notes
- Power Tool
- Printer
- PVC Pipe
- Pyrex / Cookware Glass