National Kerbside recycling takes effect 1st February 2024
From today (1st Feb 2024), everyone in New Zealand will have to follow identical guidelines for what items can and cannot be placed in their kerbside recycling bins.
From today, only glass bottles and jars, cans, paper and cardboard (including pizza boxes), and plastics marked #1, #2 & #5 can be put in your recycling bin. Items must be clean. All lids and caps, and items under 50mm are excluded!
The Ministry for the Environment and the Local Councils will be running an education campaign around Kerbside Standardisation for the next 6 weeks.
New items excluded from 1 February 2024:
- Items less than 50mm (e.g. caps, small cosmetic and spice containers)
- Aerosol cans (steel and aluminium)
- Liquid paperboard (Tetrapak and juice boxes)
- Plastics 3, 4, 6 and 7
- Aluminium foil and trays
- All lids & Caps (separate scheme coming soon for these)
- Items over 4 litres
While reducing the use of single use items is the best way to reduce waste, the second best is recycling correctly.
For further information vist the Ministry for the Environment's website
https://environment.govt.nz/what-you-can-do/campaigns/recycle/