Recycling
It’s great to recycle household waste in the kerbside bins provided by the council. But there are still many items that go to landfill every year that could be recycled elsewhere. We receive and process many of these things at two locations so start putting these items aside to bring in regularly. Join us in Auckland’s grand vision to be zero waste by 2040! Here’s what you can recycle with us, how and where.
When and where to drop off
Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am to 2pm
Resource Recovery Depot: Unit E, 489 Rosebank Road, Avondale, Auckland.
Wednesday to Sundays, 10am to 2pm
EcoMatters Store: 1 Olympic Place, New Lynn, Auckland.
*Both locations are closed on public holidays*
What we accept so landfill doesn’t have to
Free to drop off with us
CURTAINS
We collect clean second-hand curtains, which are given to families in need via Habitat for Humanity. We’re thrilled to work with this fabulous organisation and they’re incredibly grateful for all your contributions, especially lined curtains, which really help to keep people warmer and healthier. Sorry, no blinds, rails or mouldy curtains, thank you.
FREE to drop off.
DISPOSABLE RAZORS AND STAINLESS STEEL BLADES
A wide range of shaving equipment can be dropped off with us as part of Terracycle’s Gillette Razor Recycling Programme. This includes: all brands of disposable blades and razors (systems, disposable units, and replaceable-blade cartridge units), rigid plastic packaging, and flexible plastic bag packaging. We also accept stainless razor blades used in safety razors. New safety razors and refill blades can be purchased at our EcoMatters Store.
FREE to drop off.
ECOSTORE BOTTLES
EcoMatters is an official collection point for the ecostore Plastic Return Programme. We accept all empty ecostore containers for Aotearoa-based recycling, including the 5L and 20L containers.
FREE to drop off.
INFLATABLE POOL TOYS
Has your inflatable pool toy had its day in the sun? If it is clean and mould-free, we encourage you to drop it off to us. These toys are then collected by I Used To Be, a fabulous and innovative initiative that repurposes inflatable pool toys into bright and fun water resistant bags and accessories.
FREE to drop off.
TOOTHPASTE TUBES AND TOOTHBRUSHES
Drop off toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, toothpaste caps, floss containers and their plastic outer packaging materials to us. We encourage you to collect them up and bring them in when you have a small box full. We send them to Terracycle’s Oral Care Recycling Programme.
FREE to drop off.
Items with a processing charge
BATTERIES
You’re already making a difference by recycling batteries, so thank you! However, we’d love it if you could give us a hand by sorting your batteries into alkaline and non-alkaline (including lithium or rechargeable) types before dropping them to us. Batteries are sent to Abilities Group for sustainable recycling.
Check our e-waste page for battery processing charges.
E-WASTE
We’re a drop-off point for recycling electronic goods and certain household appliances. Processing charges apply for recycling e-waste due to the specialised recycling processes.
Check our e-waste page for processing charges.
LIGHT BULBS
We can accept LED and incandescent light bulbs, as well as compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) for recycling. The CFL light bulbs are sent to Interwaste, which has developed New Zealand’s only zero-to-landfill option for recycling these items. The tubes are crushed, elements separated and then these are recycled into by-products.
Check our e-waste page for lightbulb processing charges.
OTHER RECYCLING OPTIONS
Got something else you’d like to dispose of sustainably that’s not listed here?
These Auckland Council resources will help: