Adapted from KanNZ and checked against Auckland Council and Ministry for the Environment guidance on 11 October 2026.
A recycling symbol can be misleading. The number identifies a plastic type; it does not mean every object made from that plastic belongs in your household recycling bin. Start with the item, then check the material.
The everyday items you can recycle
The standard household collection accepts glass bottles and jars, food tins and drink cans, paper and cardboard, and plastic bottles, trays and containers numbered 1, 2 or 5. Empty them first. Auckland accepts empty pizza boxes and egg cartons too.
A yoghurt tub marked 5 can qualify. A plastic toy with the same number does not qualify simply because of its material. Garden pots, chemical containers and compostable plastic packaging are also excluded from the Ministry’s kerbside plastic-container guidance.
A simple routine after a meal
- Scrape out leftovers and empty liquids. Food scraps do not belong in the recycling bin.
- Check the plastic number, usually underneath the container. Unnumbered plastic and numbers 3, 4, 6 and 7 are excluded.
- Remove lids. Auckland Council directs lids to rubbish.
- Rinse away remaining contents. The Ministry suggests doing this with your usual dishwashing water to avoid wasting extra water.
- Put accepted items in loose. Do not tie them inside a plastic bag.
For plastic trays and containers, the national guidance excludes items smaller than 50 mm at their widest point or larger than four litres. Auckland’s Aotea / Great Barrier Island service has a different maximum size; check its local collection instructions.
Common things to keep out
Do not add soft plastic bags, drink cartons such as Tetra Pak, aerosol cans, clothing, nappies, medical waste, garden waste or building materials. Drinking glasses, cookware and Pyrex are not the same recycling category as glass bottles and jars.
Remove bubble wrap and polystyrene from cardboard boxes. Tape and labels can stay on, according to Auckland Council.
What to do when the item is not accepted
“Not accepted at kerbside” does not always mean there is no other recycling route. The Ministry points to drop-off facilities and take-back schemes for some materials. Check the scheme’s own accepted-item list before making a trip; a supermarket or collection site may accept only specific products.
Keep a small reminder near your kitchen bin: empty, check, remove lid, rinse, loose. When an unfamiliar package arrives, look it up before it becomes part of the weekly routine. The links below are more reliable than guessing from a recycling logo.
