Auckland Council is inviting Aucklanders to have their say on proposed updates to the council’s Waste Bylaw and associated controls, with consultation now open to the public.
The Waste Bylaw sets the rules for how waste is stored, collected, transported and disposed of across Tāmaki Makaurau. These rules help keep footpaths clear of bins, reduce contamination in recycling, and ensure we collect the data needed to plan for the future of waste in our growing city.
Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Cr Josephine Bartley, says the proposed changes won’t affect most people’s day-to-day routines, but are important in ensuring Auckland’s waste is managed effectively.
“It’s important we have clear and robust rules around how and where people can dispose of their waste and who can collect waste in our growing city,” says Cr Bartley.
“The proposed changes are largely administrative and will not affect kerbside collections. However, they will help ensure waste is better managed across the region and that we have the data we need to achieve our long-term waste minimisation goals.”
Key proposed changes
The proposal includes improvements to the Waste Bylaw that would:
- Expand the range of waste facilities requiring a licence to include cleanfills, and resource recovery facilities such as e-waste facilities, food and garden waste facilities, and scrap metal dealers, while limiting the focus of the licence to data collection.
- Streamline rules for waste collectors requiring a licence from the council, including removing the current 20-tonne licensing exemption and adding exemptions for incidental waste services (such as waste generated by landscape gardeners).
- Expand approved options for waste disposal, such as supermarket soft-plastic drop-off points.
- Add clearer rules to ensure waste is properly stored and contained on site, including for waste collection on private properties.
- Remove unnecessary or duplicated rules, for example, where matters are already regulated through the Auckland Unitary Plan.
The proposal also recommends clearer explanations about approved containers, what can be placed in each type of bin, prohibited items, food scraps, use of public bins, and private-property collections.
The proposal retains key existing requirements, most importantly, that waste collectors and facilities must continue to obtain a licence from the council to operate in Auckland.
The review does not propose specific rules for construction and demolition waste at this stage, with further investigation planned before any decisions are made.
Have your say
Aucklanders are invited to have their say from now until 11.59pm on 22 February 2026.
Visit AKHaveYourSay.nz to view the full list of proposed changes, find out more about the engagement events, and take part in the consultation.