Recycling collections

Your mixed recycling will be collected every two weeks. Glass will be collected every four weeks. 

A recycling calendar was provided when your bins were delivered. 

The table below shows the days, but you need your zone calendar to find out which weeks to put your bins out.  

You can use our online calendar to confirm your zone and days, by typing in your address. 

Wheel your bin(s) out to the kerb or your usual collection point by 8am on your collection day. 

Leave space for pedestrians to get past, and make sure your bins are clear of driveway entrances and vehicles so the truck can grab the bin easily.

The mixed recycling bin has a bin clip. This stops things falling out and blowing around if the bin falls over – but the clip opens automatically when the truck empties it.

Make sure the writing on the bin is facing the road, so the truck can grab it for emptying.

Try to bring your bin back in to your property as soon as you can after it has been emptied so it doesn't blow over or block the footpath.

You're welcome to paint your address on the bin - just make sure it doesn't cover the serial number.

Bins were delivered to all Porirua residences in 2018 when we switched to bins from crates for kerbside recycling.

Each bin has a unique serial number specific to your address, so needs to stay at the property if you leave.

If you’ve moved to a house in Porirua and there aren’t any bins, or if it’s a newly built property please call our contact centre on 237 5089.

We no longer pick up recycling in the old crates or other containers – the trucks aren’t set up to do this. 

Rubbish is collected weekly on your usual day.  Put your official Porirua City Council black rubbish bags out by 8am.  See our rubbish collections page for more information.  Other types of bags will not be accepted.

Please don't put rubbish in your recycling bin. If you do, we can't collect your recycling.

At the moment plastic, paper, cardboard and colour-sorted glass is recycled in New Zealand, and aluminium cans are exported to Australia. 

Only some of the glass collected is being recycled. Glass that people take to the Spicer Landfill recycling station is colour sorted and is sent for recycling.

Unfortunately there is no longer a market for mixed or unsorted glass in New Zealand, so the glass that’s picked up at the kerbside isn’t being sent away for recycling. Sorting the glass after it’s been picked up is difficult and too expensive. Some of the mixed glass is used as drainage or road base on site at the Spicer Landfill, but the rest goes in landfill.

Recycling is great, but don’t forget to also reduce and reuse when you can. Here are some ideas:

Reuse

• can you or someone else use your unwanted items?
  
• donate clothing and textiles to Trash Palace, op shops or charity clothing bins
  
• offer books or toys to local kindys or hospitals
  
• search the internet for ideas on how to reuse items
  

Reduce

• use reusable shopping bags
  
• don’t buy heavily packaged items
  
• buy second hand
  
• reduce food waste
  

Have a look on our waste minimisation page for more information.