Tuakau rubbish and recycling

Each week you can put out your 120L wheelie bin with a $3 pre-paid sticker attached to the handle. You can buy these stickers and tags in the local convenience stores, service stations and selected Waikato District Council offices.

View a list of retailers

You can also put out recycling (plastic numbers 1, 2 and 5) each week using the teal blue recycling crate and secured and flattened cardboard/paper. Maximum of two crates per household.

Recycling crates can be purchased from any one of our council offices for, for office locations see our contact us page.

Remember to: 

  • Wash clean all items (wash it like you would your dishes) and remove lids
  • Please put:
    • Glass in one crate 
    • Tins, cans and plastics (labelled 1, 2 and 5) in the other crate
    • If you only have one crate, please rotate your recycling. Glass one week and plastic, tins and cans the next week. A second crate can also be purchased from any council office. 
  • Place cardboard/paper between or under a crate or in a cardboard box not in the crate. 
  • Cardboard and paper can be no larger than 50cm x 50cm x 50cm. Please keep all cardboard and paper out of your recycling crates. 

If you do not have a wheelie bin or if it has been stolen, you can order a new bin by phoning 0800 492 452. The cost is $50. The council contractor delivers the wheelie bin to your property.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any further questions about the Tuakau services please phone 0800 492 452.

Why does Tuakau have wheelie bins while the rest of the district as bags?

Tuakau have had wheelie bins for a number of years, In the waste collection service review of 2015/2016, Council wanted to have a more uniform service, but the Tuakau community were vocal about keeping the wheelie bin service they were receiving at the time. Basically it is the service the community wanted.

Do I need a tag for my wheelie bin?

A $3.00 pre-paid tag will need to be purchased and attached to the wheelie bin’s handle prior to collection. You can buy these stickers and tags in the local convenience stores, service stations and selected Waikato District Council offices.

View a list of retailers

A tag is $3 as opposed to $1.50 for stickers in other parts of the district because the wheelie bins are 120 litres – every bag requires a sticker and bags have size and weight restrictions.

Why can’t I have black bags as well as a wheelie bin?

The service is a wheelie bin service and that is what the contract is set up for Tuakau. Therefore, trucks have bin lifters.

Why have they been picked up in the past?

Following the service change in 2016, there were flaws in the design of the tag, so Council facilitated a bag for residents who did not get a wheelie bin pick up. In 2017, there was also a disruption to service following an accident, so bags were facilitated over this time.

How do I get a wheelie bin? How much does it cost me?

Wheelie bins must be ordered through Council. The cost is $50. The council contractor delivers the wheelie bin to your property.

What do I do if I want an extra wheelie bin?

Give us a call on 0800 492 452 and it is the same arrangement as the first wheelie bin.

Please note that an extra wheelie bin will incur a second rate charge.

Why must the lid be closed on the wheelie bins?

The reason for having a wheelie bin is to contain waste, if waste is overflowing then the wheelie bin is over full. Overflowing wheelie bins generally end up getting damaged.

Why can’t I cram my wheelie bin full of rubbish?

Because waste gets stuck and the bin does not get completely emptied when the bin is lifted and continual over filling of wheelie bin, damages the bin. We get a lot of calls saying bins have been damaged by the contractor, continued misuse of the bin does lead to damage.

Do I have to put my rubbish in a bag before putting it in the wheelie bin?

That is completely up to you.

What happens if I have a load of blue stickers left by the time the black bags are stopped being collected?

You’ll be able to the Council office in Tuakau and swap blue stickers for wheelie bin tags – two blue stickers will get you one wheelie bin tag.

Related documents

pdf

Map of Northern Waikato rubbish and recycling collection days

pdf,  1597 KB Download