Pizza boxes and meat trays set to be accepted in kerbside recycling
Published on January 23, 2024
Mark your calendars for Thursday 1 February 2024, as Central Government introduces standardised recycling for all kerbside collections across Aotearoa. The goal? To bring a consistent approach to recycling, no matter where you are in the country, while also cutting down on unnecessary waste.
Mayor Bernie Wanden says, “While for some council’s the changes will be quite significant, there are only minimal changes to what we are currently accepting here in Horowhenua, which should help make the transition easier for our community.”
The key changes for Horowhenua will be that pizza boxes and plastic meat trays which are not currently accepted, can be included in household kerbside recycling from Thursday 1 February 2024.
Pizza boxes must be clean and have no grease or food waste on them and meat trays must be rinsed clean, with the plastic wrap removed.
Horowhenua District Council’s Solid Waste Manager, David McMillan says, “We’d like to take this opportunity to remind residents of the importance of only including clean and recyclable items in their kerbside collections. Any contaminated or non-recyclables compromises all of the recycling and risks it going to landfill.”
McMillan encourages the community to keep up to date with what items can and cannot be recycled by visiting What Goes Where on Council’s website.
Ministry for the Environment Standardised Kerbside Recycling
From Thursday 1 February 2024, materials collected from households for recycling will be standardised across New Zealand.
Only these things can be recycled from home:
- Plastic bottles, trays and containers numbered 1, 2 and 5 only
- Food and drink tins and cans
- Paper and cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars
What should I do with my lids?
Please keep them out of your household recycling.
Lids are too small to be separated by machinery at recycling plants. Sorting machinery can also mistake flat lids, such as ice cream lids, for paper, so they contaminate paper recycling.
Tin lids that are attached can be folded into the can, or place removed lids inside the can and squeeze the can shut securely.