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Managing rubbish and keeping the city tidy is important in how visitors, workers and residents see the city. With the high numbers of people, buildings, businesses and traffic here in the city centre, rubbish needs to be managed carefully.

Businesses have a responsibility to dispose of waste appropriately, and to make sure their neighbours are doing the same, to keep their local area free of clutter and looking its best.

Download our printable rubbish and recycling information here in English, here in simplified Chinese and here in Korean.

Auckland Council has also created flyers with all their rubbish and recyling information which you can download here in English, here in Te Reo Maori, here in simplified Chinese, here in Korean and here in Spanish.

Auckland Council inner CBD kerbside rubbish and recycling collection zone. Image: Auckland Council.

Auckland Council rubbish and recycling kerbside collections

Key timings

General rubbish, recycling, paper and cardboard are collected in the city centre 13 times weekly. You can place your rubbish out for collection at the following times:

  • Monday to Saturday 5pm - 5.30pm and 12am (midnight) - 4am
  • Sunday 12am (midnight) - 4am

Rubbish should not be placed outside the above times to avoid a $400 fine. Uncollected rubbish and recycling should be taken in and put out at the next collection time.

If you see rubbish in the street outside of collection times, please contact Auckland Council to let them know on (09) 301 0101.

Please make sure your rubbish and recycling is

  • in an official orange (rubbish) or clear (recycling) Auckland Council bag
  • placed at the correct time as above
  • no more than 15kg
  • placed neatly at the kerbside, not blocking the footpath, doorways or litter bins
  • free of hazardous materials, garden waste or liquids

Official Auckland Council rubbish and recycling bags

Rubbish should be placed in Auckland Council orange (rubbish) or clear (recycling) bags.

Properties in the city centre are supplied with these bags every 6 months, in February and August.

  • Rubbish - 52 orange rubbish bags every 6 months
  • Recycling - 78 clear recycling bags every 6 months – for general recycling and paper (no cardboard)
  • These bags can only be used for collections in the Auckland city centre. 
  • If you run out of either the orange rubbish or clear recycling bags before your next six-monthly allocation, you can purchase additional bags at the Auckland Central Library, 44 Lorne Street. The library is the only place where Council recycling bags can be purchased as well as its rubbish bags. Council rubbish bags can also be bought from the New World Metro (5 pack of 60L Council rubbish bags). 

Recycling information

Cardboard

Cardboard should be flattened and bound with string or placed inside another box. Cardboard should not be placed in a bag. 

Paper and general recycling

See here for a guide to what you can and can't recycle.

Many kinds of paper waste produced by businesses can also be recycled, including newspaper, mail, magazines, receipts, office paper and TetraPak cartons.

Penalties for illegal dumping

Rubbish and recycling that does not meet the above requirements is classified as illegal dumping.

Offenders caught illegally dumping rubbish by Auckland Council will be ordered to remove the rubbish and may be issued with a fine of up to $400.

Body corporates may also be prosecuted under the Litter Act 1979 with a maximum penalty of $30,000.

More information

For information about rubbish and recycling in the city centre, phone Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 or visit the Auckland Council website here.

Private rubbish collection

Some buildings and businesses use licensed private waste management suppliers - if you're not sure which applies to your business, check with your property manager.

Fats and oils

Fats and oils require specialist disposal and you are required to make arrangements with a private contractor (for example, The Oil Man) for collection.

  • Don't place containers of oil on the kerbside as they will stain the pavement and spill all over the collection vehicles.
  • Don't pour used fats and oils down drains as it will cause blockages.
  • Don't pour fats and oils into tree roots as it will kill the trees.
  • Businesses disposing of fats and oils illegally could incur a fine of up to $25,000.