Waste FAQs

What is accepted in the yellow Recycling | Hangarua bins at UC?

From 1 February 2024, materials collected for recycling will be standardised across New Zealand. 

Only these things will be recycled:

• Empty plastic bottles, clear plastic trays and plastic containers numbered 1, 2 and 5 only

• Empty tins and cans

• Clean paper and cardboard

• Empty glass bottles and jars

• Empty pizza boxes

If your item does not meet this criteria, it will need to be placed in the red Landfill | Para bins. If your item is food, food scraps, or another type of organic material (eg. coffee grounds) this can be placed in the green Organics | Tipu ā nuku, Tipu ā rangi bins.

What do I do if I am disposing of an item that I am unsure about, or is not on the bin signgage?

Here is a list of common items. If your item does not appear on this list please contact the Sustainability Office.

See the what goes in what bin page or the composting at UC page for more information on how you can help us divert items from landfill.

Where does UC’s waste go when it is taken off campus?

UC has a contract with Envirowaste, who picks up the separate waste collections from UC and transports them to their plant in Bromley. From here the recycling and paper collections are further sorted into grades for best practice recycling. The Organics collection goes to Living Earth, and the Landfill rubbish goes to Christchurch’s main landfill at Kate Valley.