Recycling bags binned as region pushes for cleaner sorting

Kerikeri residents will soon need to adapt to a new way of recycling, as local waste operators transition away from taking bagged recycling in favour of bin-only collections.

The change is part of a move to improve efficiency and reduce contamination in the recycling stream – plastics, tins and bottles – and means that branded recycling bags are no longer available for purchase in Kerikeri stores.

Kerikeri residents can still recycle a broad range of items at the Waipapa Re:Sort Station, located at 1913 State Highway 10.

Currently, recycling trucks are equipped to separate recyclables onboard, allowing for more efficient offloading at the depot. However, materials placed in bags can't be sorted during the kerbside pickup stage – this must be undertaken at the depot. This leads to higher rates of contamination, with incorrectly sorted items often turning otherwise recyclable materials into waste.

The region’s two solid waste companies, Northland Waste and Waste Management, will continue to offer kerbside recycling in limited areas only: Northland Waste covers Kaitaia, while Waste Management serves Kerikeri. Both companies also provide kerbside rubbish-only collections for urban and some rural areas in the Far North.

People are encouraged to visit the websites of Waste Management and Northland Waste for the most current information about kerbside collections and service updates.

---

Main photo – Example of bags and recycling bins used by Far North recycling operators