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    Rubbish and recycling

    When will my rubbish be collected?

    Click here to view urban rubbish and recycling calendar 2025-26

    Nationwide recycling standardisation

    The Ministry for the Environment has introduced new nationwide recycling standards to make sure each Council is collecting the same recycling across the country. This means no matter where you are in the NZ, recycling from home will be the same. Find out more here.

    Urban Collections

    Tuesday: Greytown
    Wednesday:     Martinborough
    Thursday:     Featherston

    Please ensure your rubbish is in Council rubbish bags and on the kerb along with your recycling wheelie bin or crates by 7.30 am on your collection day.

    All recycling must be in council recycling receptacles.

    Glass crates can be purchased from the libraries in Featherston, Greytown and the council office in Martinborough. 

    Coastal Collections

    South Coast: Lake Ferry Road (past White Rock Road turnoff), Pirinoa/Lake Ferry/Palliser Bay

    Monday: Rubbish and recycling collected year round. 

    From mid-December until end of January there is an extra collection on Fridays.

    East Coast: Tora/Te Awaiti

    Monday: Rubbish and recycling collections are weekly between 1 November to 30 April and fortnightly between 1 May and 31 October.

    From mid-December until end of January there is an extra collection on Fridays.

    For Public Holidays, coastal collections are on standard days except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. If Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Monday or Friday, pick-ups are delayed one day (to Boxing Day/day after New Year’s day).

    Am I entitled to rubbish collection?

    There is a kerbside rubbish and recycling service for ratepayers who pay for the refuse collection charge in their rates. These include:

    • urban residents
    • some rural residents en route to the transfer station, where it’s safe for the truck to stop; and
    • some coastal properties – Te Awaiti/Tora/White Rock

    If you are not paying for and receiving the service, please enquire to see if you can be added by calling 06 306 9611.

    Rural ratepayers can drop recycling off at Transfer Stations/Recycling Centres for free.

    What plastics can I put in my wheelie bin?

    Plastics numbered 1-2 and 5 are recyclable and include soft drink bottles, sports bottles, water bottles, milk bottles, cleaning products, and 2-litre ice-cream containers – go ahead and pop these into your wheelie bin. Please dispose of any lids – these are no longer accepted. Clean all bottles and containers out so they are not contaminated with food or other product. Do not squash as our recycling machine cannot scan squashed items easily.

    Plastics numbered 3, 4, 6 and 7 include: yoghurt pots, takeaway grocery bags, squeezable bottles, hard containers, medicine bottles, plastic plates/cutlery. Unfortunately, these plastics are no longer able to be recycled because of changes in the global recycling market. We encourage you to avoid using these plastics in the first place if you can.

    Wairarapa Councils have been stockpiling plastics that can’t be recycled in the hope a market will open up internationally. Luckily, these types of plastics only make up between 3-5 per cent (based on weight) of what Wairarapa residents put in their recycling bins.

    Where can I purchase official rubbish bags?

    Collection rubbish bags can be purchased from the Council Office in Martinborough, our Service Centres at the Featherston and Greytown Libraries, or local supermarkets.

    Polystyrene

    Polystyrene, often found in packaging, contains harmful chemicals that when exposed to the sun release toxic air pollutants and contributes to landfill contamination. Due to its light nature, it can easily end up in the environment posing risks to wildlife as well as humans. Decomposition can take over 500 years which exacerbates its environmental footprint.

    If possible, try to minimise the use of polystyrene materials. When acquiring items packaged in polystyrene request that the retailer take back the packaging. By collectively adopting measures to reduce polystyrene usage we can reduce the environmental impacts associated with polystyrene.

    At Martinborough transfer station, limited quantities of domestic polystyrene are accepted under specific conditions:

    • Polystyrene must be securely enclosed in a bag and tightly tied.
    • Should the bag rupture during transfer to the designated area, it is the responsibility of the individual disposing of the polystyrene to ensure proper re-securing.
    • Loose polystyrene will not be accepted; it must be contained within a bag.
    • Only bags are permitted for polystyrene disposal; other receptacles will not be accepted.
    • Adhering to these guidelines ensures efficient and safe disposal practices at the Martinborough transfer station.
    • No commercial polystyrene is accepted.

    Where are the transfer and recycling stations?

    Dropping off general recycling is free, but there are charges to process green waste, refuse and e-waste.

    Please note: Green waste does not include: flax, bamboo, cabbage tree leaves and ginger root which are not compostable as due to their fibrous and waxy nature they can’t be chopped up in machines and processed. These can only be disposed of as general refuse.

    Prohibited items due to fire risk: Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, discarded emergency flares, hot ashes.

    Martinborough Transfer Station

    Accepts: Refuse, recycling, green waste, tyres (maximum 5) and e-waste.

    Lake Ferry Road, Martinborough
    (1.8 km southwest of Martinborough)
    From 1 January 2021:
    Wednesday: 10.00am – 4.00pm
    Saturday:  10.00am – 4.00pm
    Sunday:  10.00am – 4.00pm

    Agricultural recycling only from 1 pm – 3 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.  

    Greytown Recycling Station 

    Accepts recycling, green waste and e-waste

    32 Cotter Street, Greytown
    Tuesday 1.00pm – 3.30pm
    Saturday 10.00am – 12.00pm
    Sunday 10.00am – 1.00pm

    Featherston Recycling Station

    Accepts recycling, green waste and e-waste

    60 Johnston Street, Featherston
    Thursday 11.00am – 3.00pm
    Saturday 11.00am – 3.00pm
    Sunday 11.00am – 3.00pm

    Pirinoa Recycling Station 

    Accepts recycling, green waste and e-waste

    3031 Lake Ferry Road, Featherston (Opposite Warren’s Road)
    Wednesday 1.00pm – 3.00pm
    Saturday 10.00am – 12.00pm
    Sunday (May to August) 3.00pm – 5.00pm
    Sunday (September to April) 4.00pm – 6.00pm

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