Waste and recycling

What can I do to reduce waste?

Reduce

• avoid single use , poorly made or "throw away" goods
• choose quality products with minimal packaging
• choose products with recyclable packaging
• buy NZ made products - you know they meet good environmental production standards
• choose products made from recycled materials
• buy long lasting kitchen utensils, household products, toys and clothing
• buy products which can be repaired rather than needing to be thrown away when they break
• reduce packaging by buying in bulk.
  

Reuse

• buy a second-hand item - it will be cheaper and still do the job
• re-use containers such as glass jars for storage
• use your own bags and say "no" to plastic bags when shopping
• mend broken appliances and furniture whenever possible
• take old books, magazines and toys to hospitals, surgeries or schools
• take used items of clothing to op shops and local jumble sales
• join the Freecycle network or utilise a trading site to buy and sell used goods.
  

Dispose of waste correctly

• Ensure that any hazardous material is disposed of correctly
• Use composts for reducing garden waste
• Use worm composts for getting rid of food scraps.

Recycle

• Contact your local council to find out what materials are recyclable in your area
  Waitakere City Council
  Auckland City Council
  Manukau City Council 
  Franklin District Council
  Rodney District Council
  Papakura District Council
  North Shore City Council
• Recycle plastics, paper, cardboard, egg cartons, glass, car batteries, paint, hazardous waste, steel and aluminium cans where facilities are available
• Buy products with recycled content, like recycled paper products
• Return expanded polystyrene, plastic film wrapping, cardboard and other bulky packaging to the store where you purchased the item - much of this is recyclable and many larger stores collect and recycle these.
  

Waste and recycling initiatives and information

• Hazmobile - a regional mobile service that collects hazardous household waste
• Contact the RENEW waste exchange for information about recyclers throughout the region
• Recycling Operators of New Zealand (RONZ)
• School education programmes
• Zero Waste - provides information on products made from recycled materials in New Zealand
• Freecycle - an Auckland-wide group covering the whole of the Auckland region where people 'give' their old/unwanted items to others who want them and old items are reused by the new owner instead of throwing it into the landfill.
• Donate NZ - get rid of your unwanted stuff to a good home, support your local community and help save the environment!

For a list of the business and industry initiatives take this link.