Auckland Regional Council - The Big Clean Up

Reduce Reuse Recycle - Do Things Better

Let's change our behaviour and care for our environment - Preserve natural resources, conserve landfill space and avoid pollution.

What Can You Do to Help?

REDUCE - Think before buying. Do you really need the new item? Don't overbuy and if possible buy in bulk to reduce packaging - we don't need a plastic bag every time.

Avoid throwaway items such as disposable cigarette lighters, cameras, razors, paper and foam cups, throwaway plates and cutlery. Buy long lasting kitchen utensils, household products and clothing. Mend broken appliances and furniture wherever possible.

REUSE - Think before you throw away - some things can be repaired. Take books, toys, magazines and unwanted household bric-a-brac to hospitals, kindergartens, play centres and schools, used clothing bins, support opportunity shops or just have a garage sale.

RECYCLE - It's Easy! Put glass, plastics and aluminium in your kerbside recycling bin or take them to your local drop-off centre. If you have a kerbside recycling collection the following items will be collected:

  • Aluminium Cans and Steel or "Tin Cans"
  • Glass - All whole bottles and jars. PLEASE - NO BROKEN GLASS, WINDOW GLASS, CRYSTAL, CERAMICS OR POTTERY.
  • Plastic 1 and 2 - some areas also collect 5. Look for the number on the bottom of plastic containers. These will include one and two litre milk bottles, soft drink bottles, ice cream containers, detergent, shampoo bottles, etc. NO PLASTIC BAGS AT ALL
  • (some supermarkets may take these back).
  • Put out your recycling bin on your normal rubbish collection day.

COMPOST - It's easy and good for your garden. Either compost at home, use a garden bag company or take your garden waste to a compost drop off point at your local rubbish transfer station. Try a worm bin for your kitchen waste.

BUY IT BACK - Now "close the recycling loop" by buying products which are made from the materials you have put out to the recycled. REMEMBER, if you are not buying recycled you are not recycling.

PAPER - There is a free household paper collection service across most of the Auckland region. Place newspapers, card, paper, and all cartons from the kitchen and laundry, wrapping paper (except foil) in a carton or plastic bag. Put it out at the kerb on your usual rubbish day.

RECYCLING IN YOUR AREA - Kerbside Recycling is available to householders in North Shore City, Waitakere City, Auckland City, Manukau City and Papakura District. For details, please contact:

Auckland City Council (tel: 09 379 2021)
Manukau City council (tel: 09 263 7100)
Papakura District council (tel: 09 299 8870)
Waitakere City Council (tel: 09 836 8000)
Franklin District Council (tel: 09 237 1300)
North Shore City Council (tel: 09 486 8400)
Rodney District council (tel: 09 426 5169)