Refuse Disposal and Recycling

Zero Waste

Council has encompassed the ‘Zero waste’ philosophy, which ecompasses a goal of waste reduction towards an eventual target of taking no waste to Landfills.
Residents are encouraged to adopt the ‘4R’s’ approach to solid waste
• Reduce -  The amount of waste generated.
• Re-use -  items wherever possible.
• Recycle -  Make use of the materials in waste to create new items.
• Recover -  Value from waste; for example by production of compost.

Kerbside Solid Waste Services

A weekly bag collection system is provided in each of the Otorohanga, Kawhia and Aotea communities.  Refuse is collected in official bags which can be purchased from local stores.
Collections take place on Wednesdays in Otorohanga and on Mondays in Kawhia and Aotea.
If the normal collection day should fall on a statutory holiday the collection will take normally take place on the first work day after the holiday.
All refuse and recycling should be placed at kerbside before 8.00am on these days.
In conjunction with this collection a free kerbside recyclables collection operates.  Recyclables collected are aluminium and steel cans, glass, paper, cardboard and type 1 and 2 plastics.  These items must be clean and packaged separately.
Recyclable materials should be presented as follows.
•       Glass - separate into colours and put in plastic bags.
•       Plastic Softdrink Bottles - Grade 1 lemonade, coke, juice bottles etc
    - wash and squash
    - put in plastic bag - (hot water helps to squash the bottless•      
•       Plastic Milk Bottles
    - Grade 2
    - wash and squash (hot water helps to squash the bottles)
    - tie handles with string
•       Cardboard - flatten and tie with string
•       Paper - tie with string or put in plastic bag
•       Aluminium and steel Cans - rinse and put in plastic bag

Recycling Centres

Recycling centres are operated in Otorohanga (on Progress Drive) and in Kawhia (on Lake Road).  Recyclables can be dropped off free of charge and greenwaste is also accepted on a charged basis.
Fees for charged services at the Recycling Centres are set out in the ‘Fees and Charges' section.

Refuse is also accepted at the Kawhia recycling centre, again on a charged basis.
The Otorohanga Recycling Centre is also a re-use shop which facilitates re-use of good second hand items and a similar service will be provided in Kawhia in the near future.

Opening hours for the recycling centre are as follows:

Kawhia

Saturday, Sunday and Statutory Holidays:
12.00pm to 3.00pm
Wednesday
12.00pm to 3.00pm
Christmas  Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day:
Closed

Otorohanga

Saturday, Sunday and Statutory Holidays:
10.00am to 4.00pm
Wednesday
10.00am to 4.00pm
Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day (should they fall on one of the above days):
Closed

A landfill in Te Kuiti is available for larger quantities of refuse and local contractors also provide private refuse and recycling services.