Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, so here’s the list of recyclable materials you can drop off for free at Te Maunga transfer station, plus others that have charges.
We recommend separating the things you can recycle for free from your general waste before arriving at the transfer station - that way you don’t get charged for something that could have been recycled for free.
Resource Recovery at Te Maunga
Resource recovery is the separation of certain materials from the waste we produce, with the aim of using them again, or turning them into new raw materials for use again. It involves composting and recycling of materials that are heading to the landfill.
Te Maunga transfer station accepts a range of resources such as concrete, demolition materials, solvents, household recyclable materials and green waste for recovery.
Recycle for free at Te Maunga
Recycling enables materials to be processed and remade into new products. All recycling has a cost to process, but we accept much of the recyclable materials for free, where possible, to help minimise waste to landfill.
Free recycling
Household quantities of:
- aerosol cans (empty)
- cans (aluminium and steel)
- cardboard
- e-waste - TVs, computers, mobile phones, small electrical appliances - view list of accepted e-waste items (134kb pdf)
- fire extinguishers (used or unused)
- food and beverage cartons (e.g., Tetra Paks), cut completely open and rinsed
- fluorescent light tubes
- gas bottles
- glass (bottles and jars only)
- hazardous substances or chemicals (e.g. pool, garden, household, solvents, etc.)
- home appliances* (e.g. ovens, dishwashers, washing machines and clothes dryers)
- household and car batteries
- mobile phones with batteries (e.g. AA, AAA)
- oil (5 x 4 litre packs - up to 20 litres max)
- paper
- plastics bottles, trays and containers #1, #2 and #5
- scrap metal
- solar batteries, EV batteries or large lithium batteries, such as out of vehicles or mobility scooters. *Gel batteries are not accepted.
Recycling - paid
Fees vary:
- car bodies
- car tyres
- concrete-only loads
- fridges and freezers
- garden waste
- paint
- tyres
See fees and charges
Garden waste
Garden waste is composted and made into nutritious soil amendment that can be then used on orchards and gardens, because of this it must be 100% free of contaminants and be brought to the transfer station in a separate load to general waste.
Yes (these items are accepted mixed together):
- flowers
- grass clippings
- leaves
- plants
- small branches and twigs (maximum size:100mm in diameter and 3m in length)
- weeds
- yucca (any size)
No (these items need to be disposed in general rubbish):
- animal waste
- compostable and biodegradable bags/liners, and food/drink packaging
- flax, bamboo, pampas grass
- palm or cabbage tree leaves
- noxious plants
- tree trunks
The following items can be taken as a separate load and have specific disposal costs if dropped to the correct location on site:
- rocks/stones/concrete
- soil/dirt
- treated timber
Find out more about garden waste collection
Hazardous waste (household)
Small quantities of selected hazardous waste from households will be accepted at the transfer station, including:
- garden chemicals
- household cleaners
- solvents
Please advise weighbridge staff when you arrive that you have hazardous waste to dispose of.
Find out more about Hazardous Waste
Search our waste directory for how to dispose of your hazardous waste
Construction and demolition waste
You have a number of recycling options for construction and demolition waste, such as plasterboard (e.g. Gib), timber, and concrete, or you can take it to the transfer station.
Where can I recycle my construction and demolition waste?
Cleanfill waste
Te Maunga Transfer Station can accept your cleanfill waste materials like soil, clay, sand, and rock that are free from contaminants, and which will not cause adverse effects on the environment or human health. These materials are typically excavated from construction and demolition sites.
Please do not take this material to the Maleme Street Transfer Station.