Recycle Right

Getting recycling right

You may have heard that what can be recycled is now the same right around Aotearoa. The changes started in February 2024.

It’s all about making it easier for everyone to know what can and what can’t go in your kerbside recycling bin.

EcoMatters is part of the wider community team helping Auckland Council to help Aucklanders get recycling right.

Understanding the changes

YES – keep putting these in

The above it, items will always be accepted in your recycling bin. They include:

• glass bottles and jars
• plastic bottle and containers (1, 2 and 5 only)
• cardboard, paper
• steel, tin and aluminium cans.

You can check the recycling code on the bottom of plastic items to make sure they’re either 1, 2 or 5.

But don’t forget, they must be thoroughly rinsed out and clean before you place them in your recycling bin.

NO – STOP PUTTING THESE IN

The above items are often mistakenly placed in recycling bins. Some belong in your rubbish bin or you can check here to find what else you can do with them.

Auckland Council is partnering with community groups like EcoMatters to talk to people in a wide variety of public places. So everyone has an opportunity to recycle right and take better care of our whenua.

Let’s keep it simple

There are three easy rules to help you remember how to recycle right:

• When in doubt, leave it out.
• It’s as easy as 1, 2, 5
• Is it smaller than 5cm x 5cm squared? Leave it out.

meet our friendly recycle right team

Lisa and Adam are out and about most weeks in South Auckland’s Papakura neighbourhood. If you live in this area, you might see them knocking on doors and chatting to residents about the changes to recycling and how they can recycle better.

If you see Adam and Lisa on a street near you, say kia ora!

Got questions? Call or text our friendly team on 021 0233 0856 to ask us.

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what to do when it can’t be recycled

EcoMatters been helping people with recycling for over 21 years. You can drop off plenty of items that can’t go in your recycling bins. These include things like toothbrushes, lightbulbs and even curtains. Find out more about how EcoMatters can help right here.

Auckland Council can also guide you on where to take all kinds of things that can’t be recycled. There are places all around the city. Find out where to go and what you can recycle here.

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what happens if you put the wrong thing in?

Everyone makes mistakes when trying to recycle right and that’s why Auckland Council is keeping an eye on what goes in recycling bins.

Occasionally council will need to let specific households know that something should not be in their recycle bin. EcoMatters is helping council to communicate with those households and get them on track to recycle right.

You can find out more information and download helpful resources right here. You can also receive support and information by calling Auckland Council on 09 301 0101. For immediate answers to common questions you can download Binny.

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extra resources

We’ve used some of Council’s resources here to explain the recycling right journey clearly. You can download them here to help with your recycle right mahi.

Download the ‘Yes-No’ Recycle Right A5 flyer

Download the ‘Where does this waste go’ DLE flyer

To download other flyers, including those in multiple languages, visit this page on the Auckland Council site.