Frequently Asked Questions - Rubbish and Recycling

What kerbside services do we receive?

Residential kerbside collections nclude:

• food scraps collected weekly in a 25-litre green bin

• rubbish collected fortnightly in a 140-litre red-lidded wheelie bin

• glass collected fortnightly with a limit of two Council crates per household (Note: Householders who want a second crate need to pay for them.)

• mixed recycling (paper, cardboard, tins and hard plastics 1,2 & 5) collected fortnightly in a 240-litre yellow-lidded wheelie bin.

There are increased rubbish and recycling residential kerbside collections in the peak summer period provided in areas with high visitor volumes.

How do we pay for kerbside collections? 

Each property's services for collection of food scraps, glass and recycling services is paid for through rates. However, the rubbish collection service is partly paid for through Pay as You Throw (PAYT) tags that you can buy through participating retailers and Council offices. You can view the list of retailers at the bottom of this page. The cost of tags can be found here.

How do I attach a rubbish PAYT tag?

 The PAYT tag must be fed through the red bin handle and the black lug next to the handle. This is so that the tag will rip along the perforation as the bin is turned upside down. Bins with tags threaded only through one handle will not be collected. For instructions and a video on how to attach the tag, visit this page.

We've designed our PAYT tags with ani-copying watermarks to prevent fraudulent copying. Falsifying a bin tag could result in enforcement action. 

I still have some blue pre-paid bags; can I put them kerbside?

No. Blue bags will not be collected kerbside. However, you can take them to one of our seven refuse and recycling transfer stations (RTS) free of charge until stocks run out. 

I'm not in the kerbside collection area - what should I do?

One option is to drop your rubbish and recycling off to one of our seven refuse and recycling transfer stations (RTS) for disposal. The charges for disposal can be found here. Alternatively, you could speak to a private waste collection company.

What is my kerbside collection day?

The collection service operates across a five-day working week with a 'red' and 'yellow' week system. On red week, your rubbish and food scraps get collected. On yellow week, your mixed recycling bin, glass crate and food scraps get collected. Click here to find out your collection schedule. 

How should I put my bins out?

• Please keep lids closed and don't overfill bins.
• Place wheelie bins with the logo facing the road.
• Place bins kerbside by 7.30am on collection day; not the night before or several days before.
• Put them as close as possible to the kerb, with half a metre between each bin so the trucks can pick them up.
• If you're in a flat, cul-de-sac or shared driveway, talk to your neighbours about where you can put your bins. Sometimes, it may mean putting your bin outside a neighbour's property.
• Only put your recycling bin out if it needs emptying. If it's not full and can wait until your next collection, please hold off.

Leaving your property before collection day? You're welcome to take your recycling to a local refuse and recycling transfer station instead.

What can I put in my food scraps bin?

Here's all you need to know.

What if I compost food scraps at home?

That's great! Thanks for doing your part to combat food waste. Even if you already have your own system in place, the food scraps system provides a benefit to the whole community and the environment by significantly reducing the amount of overall waste going to landfill. Composting at home is also a great option – people can still use their food scraps for things that cannot be added to their compost or worm farm, such as meat, small bones, onion skins and dairy products. 

What happens to my recycling collected at kerbside (recycling, glass and food scraps)?

All mixed recycling is consolidated at the Tirohia Recycling staging area - from there it is transported to recycling facilities in Hamilton and Auckland: 

Glass is sent to Visy in Auckland for recycling. 

Food scraps are processed at Tirohia Organics compost facility.

What do I do with my green waste?

Green waste needs to be taken to one of our refuse and recycling transfer stations. 

I have just built a new house and need bins - how do I get them?

Please contact our Customer Services Team. 

How can I keep costs down?

With the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) tag system, you only need to use a tag when you put your rubbish wheelie bin out for collection. The amount of rubbish that you generate should be reduced by appropriate use of your food scraps bin, mixed recycling wheelie bin and glass recycling crate. We also have collection bins around the district for soft plastics.

You may not need to put your rubbish wheelie bin out every fortnight if you take advantage of all the recycling options available.

Please note that the Pay As You Throw tags do not have an expiry date - so you don't need to worry about them becoming out of date.

Of course, we’ll need to monitor what goes into the food scraps bin, mixed recycling wheelie bin and glass crate to make sure that only items that should go in them are put there. We’ve also designed our Pay As You Throw tags with anti-copying watermarks to prevent fraudulent copying. Falsifying a bin tag could result in enforcement action.

We also monitor what goes into the food scraps bin, mixed recycling wheelie bin and glass crate through our contractor's kerbside auditors. This is to make sure that only items that should go in them are put there.

The goal is to reduce unnecessary items going to landfill by reusing, repurposing, recycling and regenerating the earth’s precious resources.

Why do you audit the kerbside bins?

We monitor what goes into the food scraps bin, mixed recycling wheelie bin and glass crate to make sure that only items that should go in them are put there. The goal is to reduce unnecessary items going to landfill by reusing, repurposing, recycling and regenerating the earth's precious resources.

What hours are the refuse and recycling transfer stations (RTS) open?

Check out our hours here.

Are there after-hours facilities at the refuse and recycling transfer station (RTS) sites?

Some refuse and recycling transfer stations have an after-hours service. They are: Whangamatā RTS, Tairua RTS and Matarangi RTS.

I need help to take my bins kerbside – what should I do? 

Please contact our Customer Services team to discuss your support needs. Phone 07 868 0200 or email customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz.

What happens if I am not at my property to take my bins to the kerbside or back in again? 

Please ask your neighbours, family or friends if they are able to help. 

I still have questions, who can I contact

If you still have questions, please contact our customer services team on 07 868 0200 or email customer.services@tcdc.govt.nz.

Please note: The information in the FAQs has been provided to the best knowledge of our Council at the time these FAQs were revised in June 2026.