From today, most New Zealanders can now recycle the same things from home.
These changes are part of the Government’s move to standardise household kerbside recycling across Aotearoa, led by the Ministry for the Environment.
The good news for Porirua residents is there are no changes to what Porirua City Council does and does not accept in your kerbside recycling bins.
As a reminder, these are the items that are accepted in your blue- and yellow-lid recycling bins:
- plastic bottles and containers marked with recycling symbols 1, 2, or 5
- glass bottles and jars
- paper and cardboard (including pizza boxes with food scraps removed)
- food tins
- drink cans.
“While nothing changes for Porirua in terms of what is accepted in the kerbside bins with nationwide standardisation, we are still seeing high levels of recycling contamination in different parts of the city,” says Porirua City Council Manger Water & Waste, David Down.
“To reduce the levels of contamination in these bins, please remember to rinse out your items and remove any lids before placing them in your bins.”
Items that cannot be put out for kerbside recycling include:
- compostable packaging and containers
- nappies and sanitary products
- lids for bottles, jars and containers
- fabric and clothing
- soft plastics
- e-waste
- single-use coffee cups and lids
- aerosols.
“If a load of recycling is too contaminated, it unfortunately ends up at landfill. So, we’re using this as an opportunity to remind Porirua residents how to recycle right,” Mr Down says.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the more we recycle right as a city, the more it contributes to improving the health of our waterways and Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.
“The less litter and rubbish we see around Porirua – much of which can be recycled – the more we can ensure our communities are safe and healthy for people to live.”