Make sure these 10 items go in your recycling bin every time

Publish Date : 09 Jan 2023

Most Aucklanders are good recyclers, but it's easy to get confused about how to 'recycle right'.

Just because something has a recycling symbol on it, doesn’t always mean it can be recycled. 

Play the Recycle Right game to test your knowledge and see if you know what is supposed to go in your recycling bin.

Once you've played the game, check out the list below. To help you get it right every time, we've highlighted 10 items that should always make it into your Auckland Council kerbside recycling bin.

Plastic Biscuit Trays 

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Throw the plastic trays from cakes, biscuits, and crackers in your recycling bin. The soft plastic on the outside cannot be recycled at the kerb and needs to be taken to a specialty recycler. Look for a bin at your local retailer.

Plastic Meat Trays

Make sure these 10 items go in your recycling bin every time

Don’t confuse these with polystyrene trays.

Plastic Takeaway Containers

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Remember to rinse the container first.

Plastic Bottles

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Keep your lids on.

Glass Bottles

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Chuck them in the recycling or clean them out and use them again.

Cardboard

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Remember to flatten your cardboard.

Aluminium Can         

10 items to go in recycling

Please do not squash your aluminium cans.

Tins

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Both the lid and the container can go in your recycling bin.

Tetra Pak

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Soy milk containers, juice boxes, you name it.

Used Pizza Box

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The box can go in your recycling – but keep the leftover pizza out.

Over to you

Overall, a great rule of thumb to follow is that you can recycle most containers from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry. Just remember to rinse and leave lids on bottles and containers before placing them in the recycling bin.

If you’re unsure about whether an item can be recycled or not, check out our recycling search tool.

Test your recycling knowledge and find out more about recycling in Auckland by heading to recycleright.co.nz

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