Rubbish and Recycling

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Rubbish Overview

There is a variety of rubbish collection and disposal services in New Plymouth District. We are committed to reducing waste at landfills through kerbside recycling and waste reduction programmes at home, work and schools. We are also committed to keeping our district free of litter and have an instant littering fine of up to $400.

Water and Wastes Video

See our introduction to Water and Wastes video on YouTube.

Disposal of e-waste

Urban households

All residential properties within the main urban areas and some specific rural roads receive a weekly refuse collection and kerbside recycling service. This service is paid via a targeted fee on your rates bill.

If your rubbish day falls on a public holiday your rubbish is still collected as per normal.

What day is my rubbish collected?

Guidelines for urban households

Households may dispose of one standard rubbish bag (either plastic or twin wall paper) not exceeding 20kg or 60L per week.
Oversize 'garden sack' bags or large non standard bags are too big and for health and safety reasons and will not be collected.
Additional bags will be collected provided they do not exceed 20kg or 60L, and have a prepaid excess-refuse sticker attached to each bag. Stickers are available from various retail outlets and our offices (prices may vary from retailer to retailer).
You are responsible for purchasing your own plastic or paper bags.
On collection day bags need to be placed at the kerbside by 7am. They must be placed where they will not obstruct pedestrians or vehicles and where the collection contractor can see them.
You may not place rubbish bags in front of other people's homes.
All sharp objects must be wrapped safely to avoid injury and bags must be tied closed to prevent spillage and injury to collectors.
All non-hazardous domestic refuse, and recyclable materials as specified by recycling guidelines, are accepted.

Rural households

Rural residents who do not pay a refuse charge as part of their rates do not receive a kerbside rubbish collection service. If you do not receive this service, your rubbish may be collected if:

You live along roads that collection vehicles travel,
Each standard rubbish bag carries a prepaid excess-refuse sticker, and
You have notified Waste Management that you live outside the collections area but a bag will be at your gate to collect - place your rubbish adjacent to the roadway in an obvious location on the collection day.

You can also take your rubbish, recycling and greenwaste to the nearest refuse transfer station. The cost per bag is $3.00.

You may arrange to put your rubbish and recyclables outside someone’s house in a refuse collection area (please check with the householder). Each additional rubbish bag requires a prepaid excess-refuse sticker.

What day is my rubbish collected?

Commercial and industrial customers

There is a limited kerbside collection of rubbish on specific roads. If the property / business is not paying a refuse collection rate then prepaid refuse stickers must be used for each standard size rubbish bags. For more information please contact us.

Transfer stations and landfills

Landfill charges

See each transfer station or landfill webpage (above) for their specific charges. Charges may be waived if:

The rubbish collected is from beaches or other public places as part of a clean up organised by a community organisation, including schools, using voluntary labour.
The rubbish is collected from a public place by a charity or arises from a one-off clean up of property owned or occupied by a charity. (This does not apply to the normal cleaning of public places by a charity, or situations where a charity tender for refuse disposal on a regular basis. This also does not apply to sports and other clubs or schools.)
The rubbish arises as a consequence of fire or other natural disaster where there is no insurance or other funding to cover the costs.

Please contact us for more information about waiving landfill charges.