RECYCLING WEIRD STUFF

We provide a convenient drop-off service for items that can be recycled but aren't accepted in Auckland Council kerbside recycling bins. These items are sent on to our recycling partners who reuse useful parts or make them into new products. Please note that charges apply for some items that require specialised dismantling processes.

Drop-off locations

There are drop-off options available seven days a week:

Resource Recovery Depot: Unit E, 489 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland.
Monday 10am-2pm
Tuesday 10am-2pm

EcoMatters Store: 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland.
Wednesday 10am-2pm
Thursday 10am-2pm
Friday 10am-2pm
Saturday 10am-2pm
Sunday 10am-2pm

We're closed on public holidays. Remember, our EcoMatters Store will be closed on Sunday 25 April and our EcoMatters Resource Recovery Depot will be closed on Monday 26 April, due to Anzac Day.

What you can recycle with us

Batteries

We send our batteries to Abilities. We separate them into Alkaline and Non-alkaline (incl. Lithium or rechargeable). It would be great if you can do this before dropping them off.

Cost: Alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, 9V) $3/kg
Cost: Non-alkaline batteries (button, rechargeable, Lithium, Ni - Mh, phone) $5.50/kg

Curtains

We collect donations of second-hand curtains, which are distributed to families in need via Habitat for Humanity.

Lined curtains really help to keep homes warm, they make it easier to heat a home during winter, and that can result in less sickness!

No mouldy curtains, blinds or rails please.

FREE

Ecostore bottles

We're a collection point for the ecostore Plastic Return Programme. We accept all empty ecostore containers for Aotearoa-based recycling, including the 5L and 20L ones.

FREE

E-waste

We're a drop-off point for recycling electronic goods and some household appliances. Charges apply for recycling e-waste due to the specialised recycling processes. Find out more at E-waste

Inflatable pool toys

If your pool toy has had its day in the sun, but is still clean with no mould, you can drop it off to us. We collect them for I Used To Be, an initiative that repurposes inflatable pool toys into bright and fun water resistant bags and accessories.

FREE

Lightbulbs

Interwaste collect the CFL light bulbs which contain harmful mercury. The bulbs are crushed into tiny pieces, then the different components separated. We can also accept LED and incandescent bulbs.

Cost: $1 per light bulb. $3 per tube.

Toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes

Drop off your toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, toothpaste caps, floss containers and their plastic outer packaging materials. Once we have a box full we then send them to Terracycle for their Oral Care Recycling Programme.

FREE

Disposable razors and stainless steel safety razor blades

All brands of disposable blades and razors (systems and disposable units, and replaceable-blade cartridge units), rigid plastic packaging, and flexible plastic bag packaging can be dropped off at EcoMatters. We also accept stainless razor blades, used in safety razors, (both are available to purchase at our EcoMatters Store). These are sent to Terracycle for their Gillette Razor Recycling Programme.

FREE

Writing instruments

We're a drop-off point for Terracycle's writing instrument recycling scheme.

If you’ve got any brand of pen, felt tip, highlighter, marker, empty correction fluid pots, correction tape, mechanical pencil and eraser pen, you can drop them in to us. We can’t take wooden pencils, crayons or chalk though.

FREE

Are you wanting to recycle something that's not on our list? Try searching Auckland Council's guide