From Tuesday, 1 July, the pre-paid price of rubbish stickers and wheelie bin tags is doubling for the whole district except for Raglan, which has separate waste services and pricing.
From this date onwards, each rubbish bag will cost $3, and each wheelie bin will cost $6 to collect. The stickers are increasing from $1.50 to $3 and wheelie bin tags are increasing from $3 to $6.
In July, residents can use up their old stock by doubling-up the stickers on each bag and on wheelie bins – use two $1.50 blue stickers on each bag and two $3 yellow tags on each bin.
New stickers in new colours will be available at retailers in August. The new rubbish bag stickers will be pink; residents will need to use one $3 pink sticker per rubbish bag. The new wheelie bin tags will be green; residents will need to use one $6 tag.
This is the first user-pay increase on the sticker and tag price since 2018. Since then, the cost of waste management has increased significantly. For example, one cost of waste service is dumping rubbish at landfills. Since 2018, the landfill gate fees have risen from $81 per tonne to $191 per tonne today in 2025.
We understand price increases are never welcome news. We also know that on average, the weight of rubbish contains 14% of recyclable materials and 46% of food and organic waste.
We are encouraging ratepayers to recycle everything they can and to compost food and green waste to reduce the overall amount of rubbish, which will also reduce the number of stickers and tags needed.
The pre-paid stickers and tags account for 60% of the total cost of waste services, with the remaining 40% coming from targeted rates in your rates invoice.
To keep the targeted rates down as much as possible, we’re increasing the user-pay price which allows households to have greater control over the cost of their waste and encourage them to be aware of how much they create.
We as a council are committed to waste minimisation and recycling to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. Join one of council’s waste minimisation events to help reduce waste from your household. Coming up on 24 June is Mainstream Green’s Zero Waste learning online.
You can purchase the stickers from supermarkets, Waikato District Council offices and libraries and some convenience stores. Search stockists.
FAQs
What’s changing?
From Tuesday, 1 July, the price for kerbside rubbish collection is doubling for the whole district except Raglan that has separate rubbish collection and different charges.
This means that rubbish bag stickers per bag will increase from $1.50 to $3 and wheelie bin tags (for Tuakau only) will be increasing from $3 to $6 per bin. The pre-paid stickers and tags are called user-pay and contribute 60% to the overall cost of waste management.
From Tuesday, 1 July, residents need to double-up on stickers and tags and use two blue stickers per rubbish bag and two yellow tags per wheelie bin to ensure their rubbish is collected.
Why is the price increasing?
The cost of waste services has increased significantly since the last user-pay increase in 2018. For example, gate fees at landfills have increased from $81 a tonne in 2018 to $191 a tonne now, and that’s just to dump it, we still have to pay for collection services, and other waste support services.
For user-pay to contribute to the true costs of the services, from 1 July 2025 the sticker price per rubbish bag will be raised from $1.50 per bag to $3.00 and tags will increase from $3.00 or $6.00 per tag –user pays covers about 60% and the rest of the 40% is covered in targeted “rubbish and recycling” in your rates bill.
Can I stock up?
No, stocking up is not recommended as the stickers and tags are changing. You can use up your current blue rubbish bag stickers or yellow wheelie bin tags during July and August. But residents will require two stickers per bag/ tags per wheelie bin from 1 July to 1 September if using the old stickers, so there is no benefit to stocking up on old stickers.
When are new stickers available?
They will be in retailers and council offices during August. They will be $3.00 pink stickers for bags, and new green $6.00 tags for wheelie bins. New stickers must be used from 1 September.
What if I still have current stickers left on 1 September?
Come into any council office and we will swap them for new ones.
Why are stickers different prices between shops?
We set a Recommended Retail Price (PPR), and we provide a 5% discount on the sale price for retailers to cover credit card or administration fees. Once a shop has purchased stickers or tags, unfortunately we no longer have control over the price.
Most retailers including supermarkets, Waikato District Council offices and libraries sell stickers and tags with no add ons.
I can’t afford the price increase
We understand increasing costs on services is a nationwide issue. We’re encouraging residents to look at what they are putting in their rubbish to decrease how much goes to landfill and therefore reduce the price for households.
We know from audits that on average 14% kerbside rubbish is recyclable, and 46% of the weight of kerbside rubbish is food or garden waste. This is a great opportunity to create a compost bin. Let’s recycle everything we can, compost food scraps and garden trimmings, reduce food waste and avoid products with packaging.
Do I pay twice for my rubbish?
No, you are not paying twice. Our rubbish services are paid for by a mixed funding model, with some of the costs being paid for by a targeted rate called “rubbish and recycling” on your rates invoice. With the remainder of the costs being paid for with the income from the pre-paid stickers and tags sales. The two payments together pay for the full cost of the rubbish service.
If the pre-paid stickers are increasing, does that mean I pay in my rates?
No, unfortunately increasing the user-pay proportion this much doesn't cover the full cost of the service, but it helps. The targeted rate is going up, but by less than it would have had to go up if the sticker price remained the same.
Why doesn’t council offer food scrap collections
Due to the impact of the 2025 rates, Councillors decided not to consult on food scrap collections to keep costs down. We remain committed to waste minimization and to educating our communities on reducing food waste and keeping organic waste out of landfills. We are encouraging residents to start their own composting. Please let your local Councillor know if you are keen on kerbside food scraps collection.
Will the rubbish bag sticker price increase again?
It’s possible, we won’t know this until the next Long Term Plan in 2027.
Why is the public not being consulted on the price increases?
The user-pay price increases are a financial and contract management decision that is supported by Elected Members.
Will we see increased illegal dumping?
It’s possible, and we’re asking the community to help us if you see this. Please report it via the Antenno app or call Council 0800 492 452.
What about recycling costs?
Recycling is fully funded by the “rubbish and recycling” targeted rate for eligible households in your rates.
