Sorting through new recycling rules

Recycling in the Far North is ‘business as usual’ following new government rules introduced this month to standardise recycling across the country.

Since February 1, everyone in Aotearoa has been following identical rules around what items can and cannot be recycled by councils.

Far North District Council has complied with national recycling guidelines for some time and the new rules mean everything stays the same in the district.

What can be recycled in the Far North district?

• Plastic containers, including clean plastic bottles, containers and meat trays, some yoghurt, margarine, takeaway and ice-cream containers, milk bottles, and cleaning product plastics. These are numbered 1, 2, and 5 only

• Glass bottles and jars (separated into brown, clear, and green)

• Clean aluminium and tin cans

• Flattened cardboard and paper.

What is not allowed:

• No window, frosted, crystal or reinforced glass

• No coffee cups, plastic or wax-coated cardboard.

Far North District Council operates 16 refuse and recycling stations around the district and 11 community recycling centres, which can be found here. For further information on our recycling rules, head to our website.

The council does not contract kerbside rubbish and recycling services, which are user-pay services operated privately by waste companies. Customers should contact their waste company if they have any questions about kerbside recycling services. Click here for more information.