From 1 February 2024, the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is requiring standardised kerbside collections across the country. This is intended to make it simpler for everyone to understand what can and cannot go into our recycling bins, especially visitors to the area.

This aims to ensure consistent recycling when visiting other areas of New Zealand.

These Government changes are mandatory for all Councils to comply with.

From 1 February the below materials should be put in your kerbside recycling bins:

• Plastic bottles and containers marked with recycling symbols 1, 2, and 5 (without lids)
• Food tins and drink cans
• Paper and cardboard (including pizza boxes – with food scraps removed)

And for your glass crate:

• Glass bottles and jars (without lids)

Unfortunately this means plastics 3 and 4 should no longer be put into your kerbside recycling bins. However, it is important to know that you can still take plastics 3 and 4 to your local Mobile Recycling Centre or the Resource Recovery Park in Feilding.  

You can find a list of recycling drop-off centres on our website.

For more information on recycling services in the Manawatu, visit https://www.mdc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling

For more information on the changes to standardise kerbside recycling, visit www.environment.govt.nz/recycle