Rubbish and Recycling FAQs

On collection, your recycling is sent off to different recycling depots according to the recyclable material:

• Glass bottles and jars go to VISY Recycling NZ Auckland.
• Plastics 1, 2 and 5, paper and cardboard go to Earthcare.
• Plastics 3, 4, 6 and 7 are considered contaminated and should be placed into general waste.

As Waipukurau continues to expand, new routes make room for greater efficiencies of service. 
You can view a map of the zones here.

There are three trucks that come separately to collect rubbish and recycling and there may be a delay between the arrival of each truck. As long as your rubbish and recycling are kerbside by 7.30 am and you have followed our Recycling Made Easy Guide, your rubbish and recycling should be collected before the end of the day.

• A rubbish truck collects all Council rubbish bags.
• The recycling truck collects plastics 1, 2 and 5, and cans (black crate), as well as cardboard and paper (teal crate). The recycling is kept separate within the truck, with plastics and can put into one recycling slot on the side of the truck, and cardboard and paper into another slot.
• The glass truck collects glass recycling in the red crate.

Other reasons your recycling might not have been collected?

To ensure your recycling is able to be processed, it is important that the correct recycling is put out in the correct crate and is kerbside by 7.30 am on your collection day.

Recycling that is left for kerbside collection will not be collected if:

• items are not separated into the correct Council crate (black crate is for plastics 1, 2 and 5, and cans; red crate is for glass; teal crate is for cardboard and paper).
• items are not in a Council crate (black, red or teal).
• glass is mixed with other recyclables.
• items are not washed/cleaned, causing contamination.
• non-recyclable glass is included, such as mirrors, broken glass, windowpanes or cutlery/crockery.
• the crate is overfull.
• cardboard is left outside of the crate. Our contractor can only collect recycled material that is placed inside the crates so please do not overfill your recycling crates.
• items are mixed with non-recyclables/rubbish, such as wrapping plastic, polystyrene, children's toys, aerosol spray cans, take away coffee cups, supermarket bags or tetrapaks (alternative milk and juice cartons).
• the black crate includes plastics numbered 3, 4, 6 and 7, or plastics that do not display a number (non-recyclables).
• the recycling crate was not placed kerbside too late for collection.

If your crate or Council rubbish bag has not been collected and you have not received a sticker, please contact Council on 06 857 8060.

Council rubbish bags can be taken to any of the transfer stations during operating hours for free disposal.

If your house receives kerbside recycling collection as part of your rates, your property has been allocated three crates: one for glass recycling (RED), one for plastics 1, 2 and 5, and cans (BLACK), and one for cardboard and paper (TEAL). Recyclables must be clean and lids/tops removed (for rubbish).

If you haven’t already got these, one crate in each colour is available to you free of charge. It is important to use these crates, as it allows our team to easily identify recycling crates for pick-up and speeds up the collection process. It also means we know that these crates can be lifted safely by our staff, as long as they aren’t overfilled.

The crates belong to your property and must remain with your property when you move.

If you require a crate for your recycling, please call us on 06 857 8060, or visit our team at our Waipawa office on Ruataniwha Street or the Waipawa District Library.

Larger volumes of recycling can be taken to the recycling drop-off centres at any time and disposed of for free.

Black 60L crate: Plastics and cans. Plastic bottles and containers numbered 1,2 and 5 – Check the triangle at the bottom of the plastics. Tin and aluminium cans. 

Teal 60L crate: Flattened cardboard and paper. If it fits within the crate, that is what we will take.

Red 45L crate: Glass bottles and jars (all colours). Lids cannot be placed in the glass crates. They will need to be removed and discarded in general rubbish.

Remember – Wash, Squash and Lids off

The Packaging Forum's Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme has recently launched throughout Hawkes Bay. You can recycle your soft plastics at Waipukurau Countdown and New World. Make sure it is clean.

The recycling crates are allocated to the property and therefore do not move with you. Please do not take the recycling crates with you when you move.

We recommend you label all of your crates with your property's address using a waterproof marker. Your crates belong with the property and will stay there, even when you move. 

Every household is rated for the collection of one of each of the following crates:

• One Red crate for glass
• One Teal crate for cardboard and paper
• One Black crate for plastics 1, 2 and 5, and cans

Your household should have one each of the above crates only. If you place more than one of each of the crates out for collection, the additional crate will not be picked up.

For example: It’s rubbish and recycling day and a property in Waipawa puts out one red crate, one black crate and two teal crates. The additional teal crate will not be collected; it will remain kerbside and stickered for non-compliance.

You do have the opportunity to opt out of receiving Council-collected recycling crates. However, Council's kerbside rubbish and recycling collection service is rates funded and crates are distributed to each eligible household in the district. If you choose not to use the service, you will still be charged an annual targeted rate, similar to that charged for libraries, etc.

Pōrangahau and CHB beaches

Pōrangahau: at the Pōrangahau Dairy
Kairakau: at 3 Kairakau Beach Road
Pourerere: Pourerere Campground

Ongaonga: General Store

Otāne: Otāne General Store

Takapau: Food Market Four Square

Waipawa

Waipawa Four Square
Kingfisher Gifts

Waipukurau

Countdown Supermarket 
New World Supermarket
Mitre10