Rubbish & Recycling

Empty aerosol cans can be put in your rubbish bin.

Aerosol cans with substances can be brought to the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer station for safe disposal.

Unempty aerosols can't go in the kerbside bins because of their potential to ignite or explode if pierced, compressed or flattened in the during the collection and sorting process. Even if they are not a hazardous chemical (e.g. food products) the can may still ignite or explode.

Agrichemicals are classified as hazardous waste and cannot go in your kerbside rubbish or recycling bins. Hazardous waste is accepted at the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations by prior arrangement to ensure an approved handler is available to safely deal with the waste. Please call Waste Management on 03 3412092 to arrange.

What can and can't be accepted:

Accepted:

• Class 2,3,4,5,6 (not cyanide), 8 & 9. Please note the container must be labelled. An unlabelled container must be accompanied by a safety data sheet (MSDS).

• The quantity must not exceed 100kgs or 100 litres.

Not accepted:

• Class 1,6 (cyanide), 7 (please contact the police).

• Anything in an unlabelled or leaking container or quantities over 100kgs or 100 litres (Please contact Waste Management Technical Service 0800 10 10 10 or 03 376 4191).

Current fees and charges can be found on our Transfer Stations webpage.

To recycle cans in your yellow mixed recycling bin, please ensure they are empty, clean and under 3 litres in size.

To recycle cans at the Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off, please ensure they are empty, clean and under 3 litres in size.

Put aluminium and tin foil in your red rubbish bin if you can't reuse it.

Foil is often highly contaminated with grease and food. It's also a different grade of metal to tins and cans so has to go in your red rubbish bin.

Aluminum or tin foil can be dropped off at either of the Queenstown and Wānaka Transfer Stations.

Loose aluminium lids go in the red rubbish bin. They are too small to be sorted at the Material Recovery Facility, so can't be recycled.

Appliances do not belong in your kerbside recycling or rubbish bin, we suggest you take them to the transfer stations to recycle them.

Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations can accept small household appliances for recycling as E-cycle, including drills, alarm clocks, heaters/fans, vacuums and microwaves.

See E-Waste or Whiteware for more information.

Paper and cardboard free from contamination (glue, crafty materials etc) can be recycled in your yellow kerbside mixed recycling bin.

If your art and craft items are not suitable for recycling or reuse dispose of them in your red rubbish bin.

Arts and crafts materials can be dropped off at either of the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Always contact a professional to remove and dispose of asbestos to avoid jeopardising your health. You can find a list of licensed asbestos removalists on WorkSafe's website.

Domestic scale volumes not exceeding 20 kilos can be disposed of at both our transfer stations by prior arrangement only. Please call Waste Management on 03 3412092 to arrange. 

Do not place asbestos in your kerbside recycling or rubbish bins.

Acceptable Wrapping Methods:

Polythene Sheeting

All asbestos waste (sheeting, asbestos lagged pipes, ACM and similar or larger items) should be double wrapped in new heavy-duty 200 µm (minimum thickness) polythene sheeting.

Double wrap the waste and apply heavy duty tape to the entire length of every overlay join to minimise the risk of sheeting splitting or tearing.  

Once wrapped labelled to indicate the presence of asbestos.  

Bags

Asbestos waste must be contained in new heavy-duty 200 µm (minimum thickness) polythene bags.

All asbestos is to be double bagged and be closed with a goose tie, twist the top of each bag tightly, fold the necks over (a ‘gooseneck twist’) and seal with adhesive tape so that the contents are fully enclosed.

Zipper bags may be used if the bags are specifically sold for disposal of asbestos. Bags should be no more than ½ full to minimise risk of bags tearing or splitting and manual handling injuries.

Bags must be clearly labelled Asbestos. 

Do not open or damage the bag. Do not the inhale the dust.

Before bringing to the transfer station, lightly hose down outside of packaging to remove any dust that may have accumulated on the outside onsite during the wrapping or bagging process.

There must be NO exposed asbestos protruding from plastic bags or sheeting only the acceptable methods above used.

Non-Compliant loads will not be accepted.

Completely cold ashes which have been doused in water and left for 5 days can be placed in your red rubbish bin.

Ashes can stay hot long after a fire has gone out and can start fires in household rubbish bins, rubbish trucks, transfer stations and landfills.

Safely dispose of ashes from BBQs, fires and cigarettes by emptying into a metal bin, pouring water over them and leaving for 5 days to cool. It is important that only cold ashes go in the red rubbish bin, as even warm ashes can melt a plastic wheelie bin.

Ash can be disposed of at either of the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

If your bags are not suitable for reuse, dispose of small items in your red rubbish bin and larger items at a transfer station.

Larger bags not suitable for reuse can be disposed of at a transfer station.

Household and car batteries can be recycled free of charge at the Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations.

Accepted batteries include;

• Lithium/ Li-ion batteries (e.g. from laptops, cameras, cell phones and tools);
• Alkaline (AA, AAA, C, and D alkaline batteries);
• 9-volt (e.g. from smoke alarms),
• Cr123 (e.g. from cameras);
• Dry cell and zinc (e.g. button batteries);
• NiCd, NiMH (e.g. rechargeable batteries),
• Lead acid car batteries

NOTE: Damaged, leaking, rusty and modified batteries cannot be recycled. These can be brought to the transfer station to be disposed of as hazardous waste. Batteries that are damaged should be placed in a container to prevent spills.

Electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, or other commercial sources batteries should be returned to the place of purchase or taken to a commercial battery recycler.

Mattresses and wooden bed frames unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at both Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Metal bed frames can be recycled as scrap metal at both transfer stations.

Broken bikes can be recycled as scrap metal for free at both the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations.

Blister packs can't go in your yellow mixed recycling bin as they are made of different materials like plastic and aluminium foil, and they are too difficult to recycle. Empty blister packs can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Contact your local pharmacy to return blister packs containing any medicine and medication residue including tablets, pills, lozenges and caplets for safe disposal.

To recycle old books in your yellow mixed recycling bin rip the pages from the spine of the book into smaller sections. Put the book cover in your red rubbish bin.

Books and magazines in poor condition which can't be recycled or reused go in the red rubbish bin.

Books and magazines in poor condition which can't be recycled or reused can be disposed of at the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

You can recycle old books in the paper bin at the Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off. To recycle old books rip the pages from the spine of the book into smaller sections. Dispose of the book cover in your red rubbish bin or at the transfer station.

Small amounts of bricks and tiles can go in your red rubbish bin but consider disposing at a cleanfill site instead to keep inert material out of landfill and ensure your bin does not exceed the collection weight limit.

Uncontaminated bricks and tiles not suitable for reuse can be disposed of as hardfill/cleanfill at the Queenstown & Wānaka Transfer Stations.

Clean and dry brochures and flyers can be recycled in your yellow mixed recycling bin.

Wet or water damaged brochures and flyers have to go in your red rubbish bin.

Clean and dry brochures and flyers can be recycled at the public drop off facility at Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off.

There is no way to recycle bubble wrap (or other soft plastics) in the kerbside bins, so please put it in the red rubbish bin. Soft plastics and bubble wrap that ends up in our recycling stream can cause big problems at the Materials Recovery Facility if they get tangled in the machinery.

Soft plastic can be disposed of at the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

If you dispose of construction material in your rubbish bin, ensure the lid can close so the bin can be picked up.

Materials unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at the transfer stations.

Butane cannisters, gas bottles and helium cylinders can be recycled at the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations. Do not put butane cannisters in your kerbside bins as there is a significant chance of a fire occurring when items are compressed in the bin trucks.

Small items unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill in you red rubbish bin.

Broken gear unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at the transfer stations.

Car batteries can be recycled at the Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations free of charge.

Only recycle clean, dry and flattened cardboard in your yellow mixed recycling bin. Food contaminated cardboard or carboard that is lined with foil or plastic needs to go in the red rubbish bin.

Egg trays and toilet roll inserts can be accepted in your yellow mixed recycling bin. Cardboard cores, commonly found in printing or carpet roles, can't be recycled because they are contaminated by the high volume of glue used in their construction. Dispose of these as rubbish.

Recycle household clean, dry and flattened cardboard. Food contaminated cardboard or carboard that is lined with foil or plastic needs to be disposed of as rubbish.

Egg trays and toilet roll inserts can be accepted in your yellow mixed recycling bin. Cardboard cores, commonly found in printing or carpet roles, can't be recycled because they are contaminated by the high volume of glue used in their construction. Dispose of these as rubbish.

CDs, DVDs and their plastic cases can go in the red rubbish bin.

CDs, DVDs and their plastic cases can be disposed of the the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Mobile phones contain lithium ion batteries which pose a fire risk if they are put in kerbside bins or landfill. Recycling your mobile phone helps ensure the battery is disposed of safely. Mobile phone can be safely recycled at both Frankton and Wānaka Transfer Station free of charge.

Put chipped or broken crockery in the red rubbish bin.

Crockery contaminates recycling: Just one cup or plate can prevent glass from being recycled because it causes huge problems in the production of new glass bottles and jars.

If you can't upcycle or repair your chair you can bring it either to the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations to be disposed of at landfill.

Chargers can be recycled as e-waste at both Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

E-waste is sent to E-Cycle in Christchurch where products are dismantled and separated into component or material categories in their recycling plants, and then sent to reputable local and international specialist recyclers for conversion back into raw materials or for re-use in new products.

Recycling e-waste helps to recover precious metals and safely manage hazardous substances.

Damaged or expired car seats, capsules and boosters can be recycled at Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Car seats are recycled through the SeatSmart programme operated by 3R.

The seats are dismantled and up to 75% of the seat materials are recycled or repurposed. For more information on what happens to the seats visit www.seatsmart.co.nz.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Domestic volumes of inert materials that will have no adverse effect on people or the environment when buried can be accepted for recycling as cleanfill/hardfill at the Queenstown amd Wānaka transfer stations.

ACCEPTED

• Uncontaminated soil
• Rock
• Gravel
• Sand
• Silt and clay
• Bricks
• Concrete
• Ceramics
• Weathered dry asphalt
• Tiles

NOT ACCEPTED

Materials that may present a risk to human or animal health; and materials with combustible, putrescible, degradable or leachable components are not accepted, including:

• Abrasive blasting sands/agents
• Asbestos
• New asphalt
• Bark
• Cables
• Car parts
• Carpet
• Cement/cement waste
• Cesspit/stormwater cleanings
• Concrete with exposed reinforcing
• Concrete slurry
• Cork tiles
• Contaminated soils
• Corrugated iron
• Dredging spoil
• Electrical equipment/insulation
• Formica board
• Foundry sand
• Glass fibres
• Hardboard
• Hazardous material
• Household waste
• Hydro-excavated waste
• Liquid waste
• Medium density fibreboard
• Medical/veterinary waste
• Metals
•  Mine tailings/spoil pant
• Organic waste
• Paint
• Painted materials
• Paper and cardboard
• Particleboard, inc chipboard
• Plasterboards
• Plastics and polystyrene
• Plywood
• Radioactive waste
• Road sweepings
• Sawdust and wood chips
• Tar
• Timber
• Tyres

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Clear shrink wrap can go in your rubbish bin.

Clear shrink wrap can be disposed of at the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Clothes and shoes unsuitable for the following diversion avenues can go in the red rubbish bin.

Coffee grinds can go in your red rubbish bin.

Coffee pods can go in your red rubbish bin.

Most compostable packaging and compostable coffee cups require processing in the high temperatures of a commercial composting facility.

There is no commercial composting facility in the district and they cannot be recycled so they have to go in the red rubbish bin.

While equipment free from batteries can go in your red bin, it is better to recycle these items at the transfer stations.

Old computer equipment, also known as e-waste, can be sent to E-Cycle to be recycled through the transfer stations. This includes computers, printers, TVs, faxes, cell phones and computer accessories (keyboards, mice, routers etc).

Corflute signages are made of different plastics and are difficult to recycled. Cut your corflute signage into smaller pieces to dispose of in your red rubbish bin.

Corflute signage can be disposed of at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations as general waste. Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Curtains and blinds unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at the transfer stations or put small items in your red kerbside rubbish bin.

Curtains and blinds can be disposed of at either of the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations.

Only small animals like rats, mice and birds can be dispose of in the red rubbish bin. Place small deceased animals in a sealed bag or container before disposing in the red rubbish bin.

Note: please never dispose of small animals in your yellow recycling bin or blue glass 

Appliances do not belong in your kerbside recycling or rubbish bin, we suggest you to repair them or take them to the transfer stations to recycle them as scrap metal as a last resort.

Materials unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at the transfer stations or put small items in your red kerbside rubbish bin.

Steel doors are recyclable at the transfer stations as scrap metal.

Broken drinking or wine glasses go in the red rubbish bin.

Remember, you can only recycle clean glass bottles and jars in your blue kerbside bin. All other glass has to be put in the rubbish bin, including:

• Drinking and wine glasses
• Heat-proof glass (pyrex)
• Lightbulbs
• Perfume bottles
• Moisturiser jars
• Mirrors
• Window glass

Drinking glasses can be disposed of at either of the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Appliances do not belong in your kerbside recycling or rubbish bin, we suggest you to repair them or take them to the transfer stations to recycle them as scrap metal as a last resort.

E-Bike batteries can be safely recycled at both Frankton and Wanaka Transfer Station free of charge.

Only recycle clean, dry and flattened egg trays in your yellow mixed recycling bin. Food contaminated egg tray need to go in the red rubbish bin.

You can bring clean, dry and flattened cardboard egg trays to the Whakatipu Recycling Centre.

Only the cable and plugs from an electric blanket can be recycled as e-waste at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations. See “Electronic waste” for more information. Fees may apply. 

See our Transfer Stations page for more detail.

E-waste can be recycled at both transfer stations and at Wastebusters, including:

• CRT and flat screen TVs and monitors
• PCs, desktops, servers, laptops, UPS, routers. modems, switches etc
• Printers and photocopiers
• Computer accessories (keyboards, mice, routers etc)

Small appliances and consumer electronics (e.g. DVD player, stereo) can also be recycled at the transfer stations.

E-waste is sent to E-Cycle in Christchurch where products are dismantled and separated into component or material categories in their recycling plants, and then sent to reputable local and international specialist recyclers for conversion back into raw materials or for re-use in new products.

Recycling e-waste helps to recover precious metal recovery and safely manage hazardous substances.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Used engine oil from cars, trucks, mowers, chainsaws etc can be recycled at the transfer stations. Please make sure oil is in a clearly labelled, water-tight and sealed container, e.g. the container that the new oil comes in works well.

Contaminated oil (e.g. with petrol or antifreeze) is not accepted and should be treated as hazardous waste.

Household volumes only can be recycled at the Whakatipu Recycling centre public drop off. Please make sure oil is in a clearly labelled, water-tight and sealed container, e.g. the container that the new oil comes in works well.

Contaminated oil (e.g. with petrol or antifreeze) is not accepted and should be treated as hazardous waste.

E-Scooter batteries can be safely recycled at both Frankton and Wanaka Transfer Station free of charge.

Fertilisers are classified as hazardous waste and cannot go in your kerbside rubbish or recycling bins. Hazardous waste is accepted at the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations by prior arrangement to ensure an approved handler is available to safely deal with the waste.

Please call WM on 03 3412092 to arrange.

See Hazardous waste for more detail.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Fire extinguishers can be recycled at both transfer stations.

Before disposing of used fireworks make sure these have properly cooled. Douse used fireworks with water and leave to cool for 24 hours before disposing of these in your red rubbish bin.

Before disposing of used fireworks make sure these have properly cooled. Douse used fireworks with water and leave to cool for 24 hours before disposing of these at either transfer station.

If you have unused or faulty fireworks contact our transfer stations for advice on safe disposal.

Before disposing of used flares make sure these have properly cooled. Douse with water and leave to cool for 24 hours before disposing of these in your red rubbish bin.

Before disposing of used flares make sure these have properly cooled. Douse with water and leave to cool for 24 hours before disposing of these at either transfer station.

Flooring and underlay unsuitable for reuse can be brought to the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations for disposal.

Fluorescent bulbs from Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), also called energy-saving lights, and compact fluorescent tube e.g. office strip lighting, can be recycled at the Whakatipu Recycling Centre.

Tungsten light bulbs (old style filament bulbs) and LED lights can not be recycled, please put them in rubbish.

Fluorescent bulbs from Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), also called energy-saving lights, and compact fluorescent tube e.g. office strip lighting, can be recycled at the Wānaka transfer station.

While surplus food can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin and through the transfer station facilities, it releases methane - a harmful greenhouse gas - when it breaks down in landfill so this should be avoided where possible.

Food (surplus) is accepted at both the Queenstown and Wānaka Transfer Stations.

While food scraps can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin and through the transfer station facilities, they release methane - a harmful greenhouse gas - when in landfill so it is best to avoid disposal where possible.

Domestic whiteware, including fridges and freezers, can be recycled at the transfer stations.

Old fridges and freezers must be disposed of correctly so they can be degassed to capture the greenhouse gases including chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or Freon gases.

Once safely captured, these chemicals can be purified for reuse or turned into other substances.

The appliance can then be safely scrapped to reclaim the metal.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Note, if your appliance has already been degassed, please provide proof of service (e.g. an invoice from a certified technician) to transfer station staff.

If you can't upcycle or repair your three-legged chair or other broken furniture, you can bring it either of the transfer stations to be disposed of at landfill.

Garden chemicals are classified as hazardous waste and cannot go in your kerbside rubbish or recycling bins. Hazardous waste is accepted at the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations by prior arrangement to ensure an approved handler is available to safely deal with the waste.

Please call WM on 03 3412092 to arrange.

See Hazardous waste for more detail.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Smaller items can go in the red rubbish bin, ensure the lid can close so your bin can be collected.

Garden tools and hardware unsuitable for reuse can be brought to the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations for disposal.

Gas bottles, butane canisters and helium cylinders can be recycled at both transfer stations.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Broken window panes go in the red rubbish bin. Remember, you can only recycle clean glass bottles and jars in your blue kerbside bins.

Broken window panes can be disposed of at the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Metal frames can be recycled as scrap metal at either transfer station.

Broken heatproof glass/ovenware (e.g. pyrex) goes in the red rubbish bin.

Broken heatproof glass/ovenware (e.g. pyrex) can be disposed of to landfill at the transfer stations.

Prescription glasses cannot be recycling in your kerbside bins and should be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Prescription glasses can be disposed of at either of the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Recycle clean glass bottles and jars that once contained food or beverages in your blue glass recycling bin.

All other glass has to be put in the rubbish bin, including:

• drinking and wine glasses
• heat-proof glass (pyrex)
• lightbulbs
• perfume bottles
• moisturiser jars
• mirrors
• window glass
• candle glass

These types of glass all have a different chemical composition to glass bottles and jars and cause problems during the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars.

Crockery contaminates recycling too. Put broken cups, bowls and plates in the rubbish bin. Lids go in the rubbish too.

Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations accept hedge trimmings and tree branches up to 400mm in diameter, and small tree stumps for diversion to green waste. 

Other green waste brought to the transfer station has to go to landfill, including broom, gorse, loose leaves, grass clippings, flax and weeds. Find more information about why we can't accept all green waste here. 

To ensure you can divert tree branches at the transfer station, separate them from your other waste by putting them on top of your trailer load so they can be lifted off for green waste before you dispose of anything else to landfill. 

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Domestic volumes of inert materials that will have no adverse effect on people or the environment when buried can be accepted for recycling as cleanfill/hardfill at the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations.

ACCEPTED

• Uncontaminated soil
• Rock
• Gravel
• Sand
• Silt and clay
• Bricks
• Concrete
• Ceramics
• Weathered dry asphalt
•Tiles

NOT ACCEPTED

Materials that may present a risk to human or animal health; and materials with combustible, putrescible, degradable or leachable components are not accepted, including:

• Abrasive blasting sands/agents
• Asbestos
• New asphalt
• Bark
• Cables
• Car parts
• Carpet
• Cement/cement waste
• Cesspit/stormwater cleanings
• Concrete with exposed reinforcing
• Concrete slurry
• Cork tiles
• Contaminated soils
• Corrugated iron
• Dredging spoil
• Electrical equipment/insulation
• Formica board
• Foundry sand
• Glass fibres
• Hardboard
• Hazardous material
• Household waste
• Hydro-excavated waste
• Liquid waste
• Medium density fibreboard
• Medical/veterinary waste
• Metals
• Mine tailings/spoil pant
• Organic waste
• Paint
• Painted materials
• Paper and cardboard
• Particleboard, inc chipboard
• Plasterboards
• Plastics and polystyrene
• Plywood
• Radioactive waste
• Road sweepings
• Sawdust & wood chips
• Tar
• Timber
• Tyres

Please call Waste Management on 03 3412092 to ensure an approved handler is available at the Transfer Station to safely deal with hazardous waste.

Accepted: In a labelled container and in quantities less than 100kg or 100L:

Class 2: flammable gases

Class 3: flammable liquids

Class 4: flammable solids

Class 5: oxidising substances

Class 6: substances toxic to people (not cyanide)

Class 8: corrosive substances

Class 9: substances toxic to the environment

All accepted material must be accompanied by a current safety data sheet (SDS). Safety data sheets provide important information about hazardous. substances. The supplier of a hazardous substance must provide a compliant SDS with their products.

Please contact Waste Management Technical Service (0800 10 10 10 or 03 376 4191) for unlabelled or leaking container or quantities over 100kg or 100L.

Not accepted:

Class 1: explosives - contact our transfer stations for advice on safe disposal.

Class 6: substances toxic to people (cyanide)

Class 7: radioactive materials - contact our transfer stations for advice on safe disposal.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Electric heaters can be recycled as E-waste at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations. See E-waste or Appliances (household) for more details.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

The body of an oil-filled heater can be recycled as scrap metal at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations. The oil needs to be drained prior to recycling.

Helium cylinders, LPG bottles, and butane canisters can be recycled at both the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Helium cylinders, LPG bottles, and butane canisters should not be placed in kerbside bins as there is a significant chance of a fire occurring when items are compressed in the bin trucks.

Smaller items can be put in your red rubbish bin. Hosing and plastic tubing contaminates recycling when it's put the wrong bin and causes problems in the Materials Recovery Facility where recycling is sorted.

Hosing and plastic tubing not suitable for reuse can be disposed of at the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Insulation unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Insulation unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of at the transfer stations.

Junk mail can be recycled in your yellow mixed recycling bin.

Kitchenware not suitable for reuse can go in your red rubbish bin. Remember crockery contaminates recycling, put broken plates and cups in the rubbish bin too.

Laptop can be recycled as e-waste at both transfer stations. See “Electronic waste” for more information.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Landline phones can be recycled as e-waste at both transfer stations. See “Electronic waste” for more information. Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Leftover food contaminates recycling if it's put in the wrong bin. If you can't use, store or compost leftovers, please put them in the red rubbish bin.

Loose metal and plastic lids go in the red rubbish bin. They are too small to be sorted at the Material Recovery Facility, so can't be recycled.

Often lids are made of different materials or are different colours to the bottles or containers they belong to so they can’t be recycled together either.

Linen and other textiles unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Linen and other textiles unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of at the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations.

Liquid paperboard cartons like the milk Tetra Pak packaging cannot go in your kerbside recycling bins as they are made of different materials like cardboard, plastic and aluminium. Please put them in your red rubbish bin.

Liquid paperboard cartons can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries can be recycled at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations free of charge. Refer below to a list of accepted batteries.

The most commonly found lithium batteries that can be recycled are Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Lithium polymer (LiPo).

Li-ion batteries are found in e-bikes, e-scooters, vaping devices, many personal electronics such as cell phones, tablets and laptops, electric toothbrushes, tools, and for solar power backup storage.

LiPo batteries are found in mobile devices, power banks, very thin laptop computers, portable media players, wireless controllers for video game consoles, wireless PC peripherals and electronic cigarettes.

NOTE: Certain types of lithium batteries cannot be accepted for recycling including Lithium Sulphur (LiSo2, LiSoCl2) found in medical instruments, measurement instruments, home safety systems, or batteries containing the code “ER” followed by numbers/letters (e.g. ER14250). These can be brought to Wānaka or Queenstown Transfer Station and disposed of as hazardous waste. Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Always bring damaged, leaking, rusty and modified batteries to a transfer station to be disposed of as hazardous waste, as they can’t be recycled. Batteries that are damaged should be placed in a container to prevent spills.

Clean and dry magazines can be recycled in your yellow mixed recycling bin.

Wet or water damaged magazines have to go in your red rubbish bin.

Clean and dry magazines can be recycled at the public drop off facility at Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off.

Masks cannot be recycled in your kerbside bins, put them in your red rubbish bin if you can't dispose of them via alternative methods.

Masks can be disposed of at either transfer station.

Mattresses unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at both Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations accept thermometers as hazardous waste.

Please wrap these careful in a plastic bag in case the thermometer breaks.

Mirrors can be disposed of in your red bin.

Mirrors can't be recycled in your kerbside bin as they have a different chemical composition to glass bottles and jars and will cause problems during the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars.

Mirrors can be disposed of at either transfer station.

Disposable nappies go in the red rubbish bin.

We know you just want to get those stinky nappies out of your home, but please take care when disposing of them. They contaminate recycling if they end up in recycling bins, and it's pretty yuck for our hard-working crew who hand sort the district's recycling.

Compostable nappies go in the red rubbish bin too.

Nappies can be disposed of at both the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations.

Appliances do not belong in your kerbside recycling or rubbish bin, we suggest you to repair them or take them to the transfer stations to recycle them as scrap metal as a last resort.

Clean and dry paper, including junk mail, newspapers and office paper can be recycled in your yellow mixed recycling bin.

Please dispose of shredded paper in your red rubbish bin. Paper contaminated with food or grease also goes in the red rubbish bin if it can't be home composted.

Clean and dry paper, including junk mail, newspapers and office paper can be recycled at the public drop off facility at Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off.

Pet accessories unsuitable for reuse go in the red rubbish bin, including plastic items as these cannot be recycled.

Pet accessories unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of at both the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations.

Pizza boxes free of food and grease can be recycled in your yellow mixed recycling bin.

Pizza boxes free of food and grease can be recycled at the public drop off facility at Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off.

Plant pots are to be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Even though some plant pots are made with plastic #5, they can’t go in your yellow mixed recycling bin. Some plant pots are made from recyclable plastic #5 and some aren’t, but they can look identical making it difficult to distinguish between recyclable and non-recyclable plastics in facilities with hand sorting like ours.

Also, some manufactures will add a range of fillers to the pot to prevent UV degradation, making them resistant to chemicals, which can then affect the processing back into recycle resin.

While plant pots can't be recycled in your kerbside yellow mixed recycling bin, there are a few locations where you can drop these off for recycling – see Other Options below.

Plant pots can also be disposed of at both transfer stations.

Put plastics bags, e.g. bread bags, cereal liners, chip packets etc, in the rubbish or find other uses for it (e.g. dog poo bags). They can't be recycled in your kerbside bins.

Soft plastics, like plastic bags, that end up in our recycling stream can cause big problems at the Materials Recovery Facility when they get tangled in the machinery.

Plastic bags can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations.

Biodegradable bags go in the red rubbish bin if you can't find other uses for them like bin liners or dog poo bags.

Biodegradable bags that end up in our recycling stream can cause big problems at the Materials Recovery Facility when they get tangled in the machinery.

Plastic biodegradable bags can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations.

Empty, clean plastic bottles, trays and containers marked 1, 2, or 5 can go in your yellow bin. This includes soft drinks or water bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, margarine or ice cream tubs, meat trays, and punnets.

Put plastics marked 3,4,6 and 7, and soft plastics like bread bags in the red rubbish bin. Lids go in the rubbish too. Only recycle items less than 4 litres in your kerbside bin.

For more information on which plastics you can recycle visit our How We Recycle webpage.

Empty, clean plastic bottles, trays and containers marked 1, 2, or 5 can be recycled at the Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off. This includes soft drinks or water bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, margarine or ice cream tubs, meat trays, and punnets.

For more information on which plastics you can recycle visit our How We Recycle webpage.

Plastic bottles and containers marked 3, 4, 6, 7 cannot be recycled and should go in your red rubbish bin if you cannot avoid or reuse these.

For more information on which plastics you can recycle visit our How We Recycle webpage.

Plastic bottles and containers marked 3, 4, 6 and 7 can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Loose plastic lids go in the red rubbish bin. They are too small to be sorted at the Material Recovery Facility, so can't be recycled.

Often lids are made of different materials or are different colours to the bottles or containers they belong to so they can’t be recycled together either.

Check with your local preschool or school if they'd like your lids for creative play.

Plastic crates unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of to landfill at both Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Plumbing hardware unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin. Plumbing hardware cannot be recycled.

Plumbing hardware unsuitable for reuse can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Poisons are classified as hazardous waste and cannot go in your kerbside rubbish or recycling bins. Hazardous waste is accepted at the Queenstown & Wānaka transfer stations by prior arrangement to ensure an approved handler is available to safely deal with the waste.

Please call WM on 03 3412092 to arrange.

See Hazardous waste for more detail.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Polystyrene can not be recycled through the kerbside system. Put it in your red rubbish bin if the below diversion avenues don't work for you.

Polystyrene packaging can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Respiratory protection (e.g. masks) and PPE unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Respiratory protection (e.g. masks) and PPE unsuitable for reuse can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Printers can be recycled as e-waste at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations. See “Electronic waste (E-waste)” for more information. Fees may apply, see here for more detail.

If you can't recycle your print cartridges through a specialised scheme, please dispose of them in your red rubbish bin.

Printer cartridges can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Plastic and glass roll-on deodorant containers made of multiple different plastics/materials need to go in your red rubbish bin because they are too difficult to recycle.

Only recycle roll-on deodorant container made of plastic # 1, 2 or 5. The roller bar needs to be removed and put in the Red Rubbish Bin. Make sure the main container is clean and free of residue before recycling.

Sanitary items, including pads and tampons, go the red rubbish bin. Please take care when disposing of sanitrary items so they do not contaminate our recycling streams or impact our wastewater system.

Sanitary items, including pads and tampons, can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Anything that is made up of at least 80% metal can be recycled as scrap metal, e.g. broken bikes and outdoor heaters, pots and pans.

There is no charge to drop off scrap metal at the transfer stations.

To ensure you can divert scrap metal at the transfer station, put them on top of your trailer load so they can be lifted off for recycling before you dispose of anything else to landfill.

Ski or winter gear unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Ski or winter gear unsuitable for reuse can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Soft plastics e.g. bread bags, cereal liners, chip packets etc, go in the red rubbish bin or find other uses for it (e.g. dog poo bags). They can't be recycled in your kerbside bins.

Soft plastics, like plastic bags, that end up in our recycling stream can cause big problems at the Materials Recovery Facility when they get tangled in the machinery.

Soft plastics can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations.

Sports equipment not suitable for reuse can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Sports equipment not suitable for reuse can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Recycle cans in your yellow kerbside recycling bin. They must be empty, clean and under 4 litres in size.

Empty, clean steel cans under 4 litres in size can be recycled at the Whakatipu Recycling Centre Public Drop Off.

Larger metal food containers can be recycled as scrap metal at the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations. They must be empty and clean.

Steel lids like the jam jar lids go in the red rubbish bin. They are too small to be sorted at the Material Recovery Facility, so can't be recycled.

Often, lids like the jam jar lids, are made of different materials to the jar or containers they belong to so they can’t be recycled together either.

String, twine and rope cannot be recycled. They cause problems in the Material Recovery Facility and get tangled in conveyor belts, so please put them in your red rubbish bin if they can't be passed on or composted.

String, twine and rope can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Takeaway cups and containers have to go in the red rubbish bin. There is no way to recycle or compost them through the kerbside or public bins.

Takeaway cups can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Tea bags go in your red rubbish bin.

Tetra Pak cannot go in your kerbside recycling bins. Please put them in your red rubbish bin.

Tetra Pak can be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Textiles unsuitable for diversion avenues go in the red rubbish bin. Textiles, clothing and shoes cannot go in your kerbside recycling bins.

Textiles unsuitable for diversion avenues can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Please put timber that is unsuitable for reuse in the red rubbish bin.

You can dispose of timber that is unsuitable for reuse at either transfer station.

Only recycle clean, dry and flattened cardboard in your yellow mixed recycling bin.

Put broken tools that can't be fixed or tools unsuitable for reuse in the red rubbish bin. Remove any batteries and recycle - see "Batteries" for more details.

You can also dispose of broken tools that can't be fixed at the Queenstown and Wānaka transfer stations.

Please put broken toys that can't be fixed or toys unsuitable for reuse in the red rubbish bin.

You can also dispose of toys that can't be fixed or reused at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer stations.

TVs can be recycled at both transfers stations. Fees apply.

E-waste is sent to E-Cycle in Christchurch where products are dismantled and separated into component or material categories in their recycling plants, and then sent to reputable local and international specialist recyclers for conversion back into raw materials or for re-use in new products.

Recycling e-waste helps to recover precious metals and safely manage hazardous substances.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Queenstown and Wānaka Transfer Stations accept car tyres with or without rims for recycling.

Fees may apply. See here for more detail.

Broken or non-reusable umbrella goes in the red rubbish bin. These can't be recycled.

Vapes can be safely recycled at both Frankton and Wanaka Transfer Station free of charge.

Cold, solidified fat can be wrapped in scrap paper or put in a plastic bag and disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Vegetable oil can also be disposed of at either the Queenstown or Wānaka transfer station.

Save your pipes and avoid dispose of fats and oil in the drain. When hot fats and oil are tipped down the drain, they cool and can block water pipes.

VHS tapes or cassettes can't go in your yellow mixed recycling bin as they are made of different materials like plastics and magnetic tape, and they are too difficult to recycle. As a last resort, they can be disposed of in your red rubbish bin.

Appliances do not belong in your kerbside recycling or rubbish bin, we suggest you to repair them or take them to the transfer stations to recycle them as scrap metal as a last resort.

Old HDPE plastic wheelie bins can be brought to Queenstown Transfer Station for recycling. These are transported to Comspec in Christchurch where they are shredded and reprocessed into new plastic products like irrigation pipes.

Wooden frames and window glass without a frame can be disposed of at the transfer stations. Metal frames without glass can be recycled at the transfer stations as scrap metal.

Please put wine bottle tops in your red rubbish bin.

Wooden pallets unsuitable for reuse can be disposed of at both Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations as general waste. Fees may apply. See here for more details.