Summer 101 - Rubbish & Recycling

Information on bin collection days over the summer break, as well as some tips for having a low-waste Christmas.

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Rubbish Collection

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Low-Waste Christmas Tips

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Rubbish Collection

Please note, due to the public holiday on Christmas Day, kerbside collections will be a day later than normal between 25-27 December. 

Wednesday's collection will be picked up on Thursday, Thursday's collection will be picked up on Friday, and Friday’s collection will be picked up on Saturday. 

So remember: 

  • Put your bins out by 7.00am 

  • Whakatipu it’s blue glass bin this week  

  • Upper Clutha/Wānaka it’s the yellow mixed recycling this week 

  • The Queenstown and Wānaka Transfer Stations will be closed on Christmas Day. 

  • The public recycling drop off on Glenda Drive will also be closed on Christmas Day. 

Rubbish at remembering? Sign up for weekly bin day reminders and public holiday alerts via text or email.

Low-waste Christmas tips

With the festive season upon us, here are our top tips for how to have a low-waste Christmas: 

  • Shopping second hand saves money and the planet! Get thrifting this Christmas and enjoy searching for the perfect gifts. 

  • When it comes to food, plan ahead and avoid panic buying. Get baking instead of buying. Check out Love Food, Hate Waste NZ for more tips on how to avoid food waste.

  • For alternatives to wrapping paper, use old newspapers, maps, crossword puzzles or brown bags you’ve amassed over the years. Why not try your hand at Furoshiki, the traditional Japanese wrapping in fabric like a scarf or t-shirt.  

  • And after it’s all over, and you are left with all that tricky Christmas packaging, here's what you can do with it: Bubble wrap (and other soft plastics) goes in the red rubbish bin, or take it to a soft plastic recycling station at participating stores. Polystyrene packaging can go in your red bin or you can take it to Mitre 10 Mega for recycling. To learn more about these and other alternative recycling options check out the A-Z directory.