Are you Bin-Fit?

New kerbside recycling rules – 1 February 2024

The Ministry for the Environment is standardising kerbside recycling rules nationally so there is less confusion and it easier for people to do the right thing. From 1 February what does (and doesn’t) go in your kerbside recycling will be the same no-matter where you live around the country. The aim is to reduce the amount of recyclable items that end up in landfill because they are contaminated, or they are put in the wrong bin.

The good news is, here in the Western Bay, very little has changed because we’re ahead of the game and already meeting most of the new requirements.

So, what is changing?

Aerosol cans must now go in your red lid rubbish bin, as most recycling plants in New Zealand don’t have the equipment needed to compact them safely.
Aluminum and tin foil trays also go in the red lid rubbish bin, as their size, shape and weight mean they are often unable to be sorted by machinery.
All lids from bottles, cans and tubs go in the red lid rubbish bin, as their size, shape and weight mean they are often unable to be sorted correctly by machinery.
Another change in the Western Bay is how you line your food scraps bin. Plain brown paper bags are preferred, as the inks in newspapers and other printed materials often contain heavy metals and/or microplastics and we want to keep these out of the food chain.

If you’ve got any questions, download our PDF for the fridge or try our handy recycling search tool.

Normal Collection days

Just a reminder, all collection days will be bumped one day forward from Tuesday 26 December – Monday 8 January. For more information on summer collection, see above.

Monday	Waihī Beach, Athenree, Bowentown – (to Woodlands Road but not Kauri Point Road and surrounding roads)
Tuesday	Katikati, Aongatete (from Kauri Point Road to Esdaile Road)
Wednesday	Ōmokoroa, Te Puna, Minden, Whakamarama (to Wairoa River)
Thursday	Kaimai, Te Puke (part)*, Ohauiti, Oropi, Pyes Pa
Friday	Te Puke (part)*, Maketu, Pukehina, Paengaroa, Pongakawa

*Te Puke area has two different collection days. Please check the sticker on the yellow lid recycling bin to see the collection day for your address and then refer to your calendar.

What bin do I put out?

Check our handy Collection Day Calendar to see which bin to put out. If you are in a holiday hotspot (Waihī Beach, Athenree (Beach Areas), Bowentown and Pukehina Parade) this calendar does not include your extra collection dates. For these, scroll back to the top of the page for the ‘Summer 2023/2024 Collections’

Collection Day Calendar

Get bin day reminders straight to your phone

You can download the Antenno App (it’s free and no login required) to be reminded which day to put your bin out.

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Putting your bins out

Make sure you’re all set for collection day with the following kerbside rules:

Bins are out on the kerb by 7am and are left out until at least 7pm on your collection day. This is essential as there are a few new routes and some drivers collect certain bins at different times on the same collection day.
All lids are closed.
Bins and/or glass crate are not overfilled.
Bin contents can fall freely into truck.
If you’re putting your red lid rubbish bin out, your pay-as-you-throw tag is attached and looped through both the red and black handles.
There is a 30cm distance around large bins.
Your bins and glass crate aren’t in front of your letterbox. Most couriers will not deliver mail if the letterbox is not accessible.

Bins will not be collected if:

Bins are filled incorrectly. If you are not sure what item goes in which bin, use our item search finder here.
The driveway is blocked or hidden by trees.
Waste in bags or boxes beside bins.
Your pay-as-you-throw tag is not attached correctly. For example, it is only looped through one handle instead of the red and black handle.
Bins are not Western Bay of Plenty District Council bins or are third party bins.
Bin contents do not fall out freely. It is the residents responsibility to ensure that the content of the bin can fall freely when lifted upside down by the side arm of the truck. Our contractor will not go back for half emptied bins.

In addition, a mobile Kerbside Coach will be checking bins to help and educate customers in this regard.

Missed collections

Red lid rubbish bin

If your red lid rubbish bin wasn’t collected please contact us to report a missed rubbish collection. You can do this by ringing 0800 926 732, filling out our online form, or the Antenno app.

We will investigate why this was the case but it could have been one of the following:

It was not your collection day.
The bin was not placed on the kerb before 7 am.
You have not attached, or have incorrectly attached the pay-as-you-throw tag. For example, the tag is only attached to one handle instead of looped through the red and black handles.

If indeed a missed collection, please leave your bin at the kerbside for it to be collected or until advised otherwise.

However you can also take your excess rubbish to your closest transfer station.

Green Food scraps bin

If your food scraps bin was not collected it may be as a result of incorrect items or it was lined with or contained plastic. Please remove the contamination before putting the bin out for collection next time.

Remember you can line your food scraps bin plain brown paper bags. The inks in newspapers and other printed materials often contain heavy metals and/or microplastics and we want to keep these out of the food chain.

Blue glass crate and yellow lid recycling bin

If your glass crate or yellow lid recycling bin was not collected please check your collection calendar to ensure you’ve put out the correct bin or crate that corresponds to your recycling week.

If you believe you presented your recycle bin or glass crate correctly and it was missed, please contact us to report a missed recycling collection. You can do this by ringing 0800 926 732, using the online contact form or the Antenno app.

However you can also take your excess recycling and glass to one of our community recycling centres.