Source: Auckland Council
Auckland’s kerbside rubbish, recycling and food scrap collections are considered essential services and will continue as usual during Alert Level 3.
In order to keep providing this service, the council is following all Ministry of Health guidelines to ensure that public health is not compromised.
Here are the steps that you can take to make sure your kerbside collection is picked up:
- Collections should be placed kerbside by 7am on your normal day.
- As more people park on the road, make sure your bins are visible and are not blocked by vehicles. The collectors need to be able to access your bin using the automated technology as much as possible to reduce unnecessary contact.
- The “pay as you throw” refuse service is running as normal in areas that use bin tags. The tags will be checked and removed as usual. Rubbish bags and pay as you throw bin tags are still available from all supermarkets for areas that have this service. Only bins with tags will be collected. Anyone with a food scraps bin should avoid placing tissues in them. These, and other hygiene products, should be bagged and placed in rubbish bins.
- Wipe down your bin handles and wash your hands after you’ve touched your bin.
Inorganics
Household on-property inorganic collections are resuming under Level 3. You will be contacted if the timing for your collection has changed. Our collectors will be following 2 metre distancing protocols.
Landfills, transfer stations and community recycling centres
For all facilities, 2 metre distancing protocols are in place, along with cashless payment. Please follow the guidelines for wearing a face covering and use the NZ COVID-19 Tracer app when entering all sites.
- Waiuku, Rustybrook, Devonport and Helensville Community Refuse and Recycling Centres are open but with restricted services. All other Community Recycling Centres are closed at this time.
- Silverdale Transfer Station, Waiheke Community Resource Recovery Park (Waiheke Transfer Station), Claris Landfill and Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station are open but with restricted services. Expect delays and only visit if essential.
- Contact all other rubbish and recycling companies directly for opening hours and restrictions.
Visiting the Waitakere Transfer Station
Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Centre is now open to the public Monday to Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am-4pm with limited services. We recommend only coming if you have an urgent need to do so. Traffic management measures are in place to reduce queueing and maintain traffic safety. Expect delays due to COVID-19 physical distancing requirements.
When coming, please remember:
- A face mask or face cover, gloves, and covered footwear must be worn at all times while on site. No entry without it.
- You must unload your own waste. Once on site, please unload as quickly as you can.
- No more than two people per vehicle. No children.
- Contactless payment only. No cash.
- Hazardous waste, insulation dust, polystyrene, car batteries, fluorescent tubes, and asbestos are not accepted.
- Check Google Maps for live updates on wait times.
Bin requests
You can request a different sized bin, a new bin, replacements, exchanges and repairs as usual. Our staff will be following 2 metre distancing protocols.
How you can minimise waste
We encourage people who are compost-curious to learn online from our community partner, the Compost Collective. Their facilitators are available on social media to answer questions and provide virtual support.
This is also a good time to minimise food waste by eating the parts of food you may have passed up before, like broccoli stalks, bread crusts, and potato skins. We have a free cookbook, and there are recipes and videos available from Love Food Hate Waste.
