Wellington Kerbside Collections

The Council runs weekly kerbside rubbish and recycling collections throughout Wellington.

Rubbish

Official Council rubbish bags

Rubbish collection is funded through the cost of the official Council rubbish bags - only rubbish in official bags will be collected.

You can buy these rubbish bags at Council service centres, supermarkets and some dairies. The recommended retail price is $9.80 for five bags or $1.96 per bag.

Recycling

The Council funds recycling collection for residents mostly through a levy on each tonne of waste that goes into the landfills.

Council staff and contractors collect recycling bags/bins from the edge of the kerb. For more information on recycling, visit:

Recycling

Suburban Collection

Place your rubbish and recycling at the kerb

Secure your rubbish and recycling in official bins or reuse plastic bags, and place on the kerb or road edge before 7.00am on the collection day for your area, but not earlier than 7.00pm the evening before. Remove containers before 12 midnight on the evening following collection.

There are specially designed nets available to fit over recycling bins to prevent spillages. The nets are available from the Council Service Centre on Wakefield Street and some supermarkets.

Make sure your bin and bags do not block driveways, footpaths or roads. Wrap any broken glass before putting it in your rubbish bag.

You may be eligible for a free backdoor rubbish collection if you are unable to carry rubbish bags to the kerbside, and if you are on a low income, benefit or pension. Call the Council for more information or visit:

Backdoor Rubbish Collection

Inner City Collection

Recyclables in plastic bags in the inner city

The Council collects rubbish in central Wellington every night. Rubbish must be put out for collection in official bags between 5.00pm and 10.00pm.

Any rubbish that is not suitable for collection will be left by Council rubbish collectors. You must remove this rubbish by 7.00am the next day.

Recycling collection for residents in central Wellington is on Tuesdays after 5.00pm. This service only collects recyclables secured in plastic bags - green bins are not practical in central Wellington.

Secure cardboard out for collection

Businesses in central Wellington have a free cardboard collection service every Tuesday evening after 5.00pm. Break down boxes and place into another box securely for collection. Place it out on the curb, away from litter bins and be sure not to block the footpath. Also make sure your cardboard won't blow away in the wind as well.

For all other recycling enquiries contact:

Allbrite Industries
Phone:  (04) 568 5521

or

Full Circle
Phone:  0800 recycle (0800 732 925)

Fines

Fines of up to $100 can apply if you:

• leave rubbish out for collection that is not in an official Wellington City Council rubbish bag
• do not remove any rubbish which Council staff have left behind because it is unsuitable for collection.

See Wellington's Waste Management Bylaw for more details.

Unsuitable for Collection

• Garden waste - Do not put green waste (grass clippings, hedge trimmings, small logs, soil) out with your rubbish. You can take this to the Southern Landfill, or compost it at home.
• Hazardous waste - Do not put chemical waste out with your rubbish. This includes paints, solvents, garden and pool chemicals, petrol and oil, cleaning chemicals, polishes, and fluorescent lamps and power-saving light bulbs that contain mercury (wrap these in newspaper or in their original packaging). These chemical waste products should be taken to the hazardous waste store at the Southern Landfill.

Keep Wellington Clean Tips

• Put your recycling in a plastic bag, and tie it up securely so it doesn't blow away in the wind.
• If you have a wheelie bin, put it where it won't blow over when it's out for collection. Make sure the lid is completely closed.
• Always put your litter in the bin. Otherwise it will end up in our parks, reserves, streams, beaches and harbour.
• Report people who you see dumping rubbish on the side of the road or by streams. This pollutes our environment and harms wildlife.
• Never put paint, solvents or liquid waste into stormwater drains. The stormwater system flows without treatment into streams and the sea. These liquids poison marine and freshwater creatures, destroy habitats and disrupt ecosystems.
• Cleaning vehicles or equipment into the stormwater system is illegal with a penalty of up to $1,000 instant fine or prosecution.

Waste Exchange

The Council supports the Waste Exchange programme in the Wellington region.

The programme is a free service that helps people connect their unwanted materials and recyclables with new owners.

Waste Exchange website

Related Links

• Terms and Conditions for Collection Services and Landfill Use
• Waste Composition of a Rubbish Bag (56Kb PDF)
• Waste Management Bylaw
• Wellington Landfills

Department Details:
CitiOperations