From today there are new standardised guidelines to follow for what can be taken in home recycling collections.
Previously, local councils made the rules for what was accepted in different regions.
But now it's hoped the new rules will reduce disposal costs and increase the quality of materials collected for recycling across the country.
From today things like coffee cups, plastic lids and liquid paperboard (in which many alternative milk cartons are made from) will no longer be accepted.
By checking the number on plastics you can determine what can be taken — one, two and five labelled items can be put in the recycling bin.
Glass bottles, jars, paper, cardboard, and aluminium, steel and tin cans can all be taken.
From Thursday, all of NZ will have the same rules about what can, and can’t, be put in the bins. (Source: Breakfast)
Auckland Council's Parul Sood told Breakfast yesterday that around 24% of material (by weight) collected in Auckland's kerbside recycling is contaminated by items like nappies, clothes, soft plastics and bags of general rubbish.
"We are needing to learn more because, if we are looking at the contamination rates in Auckland, they are quite high," she said.
She encouraged everyone to remove food residue from packaging and take the time to check the number on plastics before tossing them in the recycling bin.
"We are wanting to make sure resources out there are being used to their optimal best," she said.
"Just give it a rinse out, it doesn't take that long."
According to RNZ, three councils — Clutha, Hurunui, and Westland — have until 2027 to add glass to their collection, while Gore District Council needs to add paper and plastic.
A further eight councils don't offer kerbside collection and it's still to be determined if they need to offer it by 2027.
What goes in the bin?
Items that will be accepted in kerbside recycling bins from February 1 include:
Glass bottles and jars
Paper and cardboard
Plastic bottles, trays, and containers (grades 1, 2 and 5 only)
Tin, steel and aluminium cans
There are also some new items that will be excluded from February 1:
Items less than 50mm (e.g caps, small cosmetic and spice containers)
Aerosol cans (steel and aluminium)
Liquid paperboard (Tetrapak milk and juice boxes)
Plastics 3, 4, 6 and 7
Aluminium foil and trays
All lids
Items over 4 litres
For more information on the new recycling guidelines, see the Auckland Council website.
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