Tauranga

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Recycling and Waste Management

Sections

1. Categories of Waste

Tauranga's waste management system separates waste into the following categories:

  • General Waste (Rubbish): Non-recyclable and non-compostable items.
  • Recyclables: Items that can be processed and reused, such as paper, cardboard, plastics, glass, and metals.
  • Food Waste: Organic kitchen waste, including fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, and dairy.
  • Green Waste: Garden waste such as grass clippings, leaves, and small branches.
  • Hazardous Waste: Items like batteries, chemicals, and e-waste (electronics).
  • Bulky Waste: Large items such as furniture and appliances.

2. Recycling Procedures

Tauranga has a kerbside collection system for recycling and waste. Hereโ€™s how to sort and prepare your waste:

Recyclables

  • Accepted Items:
    • Clean paper and cardboard (flattened).
    • Plastics labeled with recycling codes 1, 2, and 5.
    • Glass bottles and jars (rinsed, with lids removed).
    • Aluminum and steel cans (rinsed).
  • Not Accepted:
    • Soft plastics (e.g., plastic bags, cling wrap).
    • Polystyrene.
    • Dirty or food-contaminated items.
  • Preparation:
    • Rinse all recyclables to remove food residue.
    • Flatten cardboard to save space.
    • Place recyclables loose in the yellow-lidded bin (no plastic bags).

Food Waste

  • Accepted Items:
    • All food scraps, including meat, bones, and dairy.
  • Preparation:
    • Place food waste in the provided food scraps bin (small green bin).
    • Use compostable liners if needed (available at local stores).

General Waste

  • Non-recyclable items go into the red-lidded rubbish bin.

Green Waste

  • Green waste is not collected kerbside but can be dropped off at designated facilities (see below).

Hazardous and Bulky Waste

  • These items require special handling and must be taken to specific facilities (details below).

3. Associated Costs

Tauranga City Council introduced a user-pays system for kerbside collections in 2021. Hereโ€™s a breakdown of costs:

  • Kerbside Collection Service (Annual Fees):
    • Recycling bin (yellow lid): Included in rates.
    • Food scraps bin (green): Included in rates.
    • General waste bin (red lid): Pay-per-pickup system using pre-purchased tags.
  • General Waste Tags:
    • Tags cost $3.95 each and must be attached to the red bin for collection.
    • Tags are available at supermarkets and council service centers.
  • Green Waste Drop-Off:
    • Fees vary depending on the volume and type of green waste. For example, a carload may cost around $10โ€“$15.

4. Local Facilities

Tauranga has several facilities for waste disposal and recycling:

Transfer Stations

  • Te Maunga Transfer Station:
    • Location: Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui.
    • Services: General waste, green waste, hazardous waste, and recycling drop-off.
    • Hours: Open daily (check the council website for holiday hours).
  • Maleme Street Transfer Station:
    • Location: Maleme Street, Greerton.
    • Services: Similar to Te Maunga, including e-waste recycling.

Community Recycling Centres

  • These centers accept specific items like e-waste, batteries, and soft plastics. Check with local centers for accepted materials.

Green Waste Facilities

  • Dedicated green waste drop-off points are available at transfer stations.

5. Collection Schedules

Tauranga operates a weekly and fortnightly kerbside collection system:

  • Weekly Collection:
    • Food scraps bin (green).
  • Fortnightly Collection:
    • Recycling bin (yellow lid) and general waste bin (red lid) are collected on alternating weeks.
  • Collection Day:
    • Your collection day depends on your address. Use the Tauranga City Councilโ€™s online collection day finder to confirm your schedule.

6. Regional Considerations and Guidelines

  • Contamination Penalties: If your recycling bin contains non-recyclable items, it may not be collected. Repeat contamination can result in fines.
  • Soft Plastics Recycling: Soft plastics are not accepted in kerbside bins but can be dropped off at participating supermarkets (e.g., Countdown or Pakโ€™nSave) as part of the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme.
  • Home Composting: Tauranga encourages residents to compost at home to reduce food and green waste. Subsidized compost bins and worm farms are available through the council.
  • Hazardous Waste Disposal: Items like paint, chemicals, and batteries must be taken to transfer stations. Some hazardous waste disposal services may be free for households.

7. Tips for New Residents

  • Download the Tauranga City Council App: The app provides reminders for collection days, tips on sorting waste, and updates on services.
  • Participate in Community Clean-Ups: Tauranga has a strong community focus on sustainability, with regular beach and park clean-up events.
  • Educate Yourself on Mฤori Values: Tauranga is part of the Bay of Plenty region, which has a strong Mฤori cultural presence. Concepts like kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment) are integral to local waste management practices.

By following these guidelines, you can easily navigate Taurangaโ€™s waste management system and contribute to the cityโ€™s sustainability efforts. For more information, visit the Tauranga City Council website or contact their customer service team.