What you can and can't recycle

Some items wrongly added to recycling bins are hard to understand – thoughtless additions include used disposable nappies, broken-down engine parts and even a pig’s head.

But this is the exception, according to Waste Management Institute chief executive Paul Evans. “Most contamination is from people who are trying to do the right thing,” he says.

What makes things harder is that one council will happily accept an item, while the next council over won’t. Adding to the confusion, some of this rubbish – particularly aerosol cans and waxy cartons – will feature a recycling logo.

One item here and there may not seem like much. But each year, councils sift out thousands of tonnes of non-recyclables from kerbside collections. All must be sent to the landfill. Unfortunately, any recyclable items contaminated by the non-recyclable – from a full nappy to rotten food – must also be chucked.

To help you sort what goes where, here’s our guide on some of the most commonly mis-recycled items.

Sometimes accepted

Aerosol cans (empty)

Accepted by: Auckland, Buller, Carterton, Central Otago, Christchurch, Clutha, Dunedin, Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt^A, Invercargill, Kaipara, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, New Plymouth, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North, Porirua, Queenstown Lakes, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tasman, Thames-Coromandel, Timaru, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waipa, Whakatane, Whangarei.

Declined by: Ashburton^B, Central Hawke’s Bay, Hamilton, Kaikoura, Kawerau, Marlborough, Napier^C, Nelson, Rotorua Lakes, Ruapehu, Tararua, Taupo, Waimate, Wairoa, Waitomo, Wellington, Westland.

Declined because: Aerosol cans are pressurised, and could cause damage or injury if punctured during processing. If your council doesn’t accept them, they’ll have to go in the general rubbish bin.

Metal jar lids

Accepted by: Auckland, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, Clutha, Dunedin, Gore, Hamilton, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kawerau, Manawatu, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North, Porirua, Queenstown Lakes, Rotorua Lakes, Southland, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Tasman, Taupo, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Waipa, Wairoa^D, Whakatane, Whangarei.

Declined by: Ashburton, Christchurch, Gisborne^E, Grey, Mackenzie, Ruapehu, Selwyn, South Taranaki, Stratford, Tararua, Timaru, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waitomo, Wellington, Westland.

Declined because: These can be too small for some of the machines that sort recyclable items, so they won’t be sorted properly. This can contaminate other forms of recycling. If your council doesn’t accept them, try a local scrap metal dealer.

Plastic shopping bags

Accepted by: Ashburton^F, Central Otago, Gore, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Kawerau, Marlborough^G, Opotiki, Southland, Waimakariri.

Declined by: Auckland, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke’s Bay, Christchurch, Clutha, Dunedin, Gisborne, Grey, Hamilton, Hastings^H, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui^J, Hutt^H, Kaipara, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, Napier^H, Nelson, New Plymouth, Otorohanga, Palmerston North, Porirua, Queenstown Lakes, Rotorua Lakes, Ruapehu, Selwyn^J, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa^B, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Thames-Coromandel, Timaru, Waikato, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitomo, Wellington, Westland, Whangarei, Whakatane.

Declined because: The bags may jam recycling-sorting machines. If your council doesn’t accept them, you’ll currently have to toss them in the rubbish. The countrywide soft plastic recycling scheme (which collected these materials via bins in supermarkets and other retailers) was suspended in December 2018, though will re-start in select Auckland stores in May 2019.

Tetra Pak cartons

Accepted by: Ashburton, Auckland, Buller, Gore, Invercargill, Kawerau and Southland.

Declined by: Carterton, Central Hawke’s Bay, Central Otago, Christchurch, Clutha, Dunedin, Gisborne, Grey, Hamilton, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North, Porirua, Queenstown Lakes, Rotorua Lakes, Ruapehu, Selwyn, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Thames-Coromandel, Timaru, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa, Waitomo, Wellington, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei.

Declined because: : The cartons are made from paper, plastic and aluminium. Only some paper recyclers can separate the components or use them to create new materials. Tetra Pak says it’s “open to” working with councils to boost recycling rates. Until then, if your council doesn’t accept the cartons, they’ll have to go in the general rubbish bin.

Not accepted

Household batteries

Not accepted in any kerbside recycling bins

Declined because: The chemicals inside a battery can be hazardous and must be disposed of carefully. Batteries can cause fires in collection vehicles or the recycling processing plant.

Where they go: Some councils have collection point where you can leave used household batteries, though you’ll have to drop them off in person. Check your council’s website for information.

Glassware

Not accepted in any kerbside recycling bins (except Opotiki)

Declined because: The glass used in drinking glasses, plates, mirrors and light bulbs has different melting points to that used in food jars and bottles. If the former is used in recycled glass, it can weaken the newly produced item. Broken glass is also a hazard for staff handling your waste.

Where they go: In the general rubbish bin. If it’s broken, wrap it up in newspaper.

Polystyrene foam trays

Not accepted in any kerbside recycling bins

Declined because: Juices from raw meat or food soak into the trays, and can harbour infectious bacteria. There’s also little demand for used polystyrene.

Where they go: In the general rubbish bin. Supermarkets say they’ve replaced foam trays with recyclable plastic packaging for most meat in their butchery sections.

Takeaway coffee cups

Not accepted in any kerbside recycling bins

Declined because: To make them waterproof, disposable coffee cups can have a plastic or waxy lining. Current paper-recycling facilities can’t handle them.

Where they go: In the general rubbish bin. You can reduce your usage by taking a reusable coffee cup.

GUIDE Councils that don’t run kerbside recycling schemes are excluded. Private contractors provide recycling services for Far North, Kapiti, Upper Hutt, Waitaki, Western Bay of Plenty and Whanganui council residents. Tauranga will introduce kerbside collection in 2021. Chatham Islands and Rangitikei council residents only have access to drop-off recycling facilities. Information collected from council websites and inquiries in April and May 2019. ^Aexcept aerosols with paint residue. ^Brecyclable at drop-off facilities. ^Cfrom November 2019. ^Djar lids are accepted, but not recycled. ^Efrom June 1, 2019. ^Fonly accept plastic supermarket checkout bags. ^Gaccepted in small volumes. ^Hrecycled items may be sorted into plastic bags, but bags are not recycled. ^Jfrom July 1, 2019. Carterton, Masterton and South Wairarapa councils do not accept any meat trays for health and safety reasons. Tararua council does not offer kerbside glass recycling.

Top tips

About 730kg of waste per person is sent to the country’s biggest landfills every year. From 2013, this amount has grown steadily. Here’s what you can do to make sure recyclables get recycled:

• If you move or go on holiday, familiarise yourself with the new council’s recycling rules. There are notable differences even between neighbouring authorities.
• Keep recycling loose, unless your council specifically says otherwise. If you unnecessarily group items in plastic bags, the whole lot may be dumped.
• Thoroughly rinse all items. Excessively dirty items will be sent to the landfill. Paper and cardboard with food residue belongs in the rubbish bin.
• If in doubt, don’t add it to the recycling bin. Give your council a ring or check its website to find if it’s accepted. Just one “wish-cycled” item could result in the whole load going to landfill.
• Recycling is only part of the solution. Recycling can feel virtuous, but the best thing you can do for the environment is to reduce the amount of waste you create.