Rotten fruit. Dirty nappies. Sour milk.
They're among the biggest offenders turning good recycling into waste.
More than 30 per cent of the material put in Auckland's recycling bins ends up in landfill because it's contaminated or can't be recycled in the first place. That's costing ratepayers $3.5 million a year and preventing valuable materials from being turned into new products.
As part of Auckland Council's Let's sort it out campaign, here's a closer look at some of the biggest and yuckiest recycling offenders.
1. Rotten food and other food scraps
A mouldy apple or half-eaten salad might not seem like a big deal, but food waste can quickly spread through a recycling load.
Once food contaminates paper, cardboard and containers, those materials may no longer be suitable for recycling.
Sort it out: Put food scraps in your food scraps bin or compost suitable scraps at home. Need more room? You can request a second food scraps bin free of charge.
2. Nappies
Nappies continue to show up in recycling bins despite being one of the least recyclable items imaginable.
They create hygiene issues, contaminate other materials and can turn a load of recycling into waste.
Sort it out: Nappies belong in your rubbish bin.
3. Unwashed bottles
Think an unwashed milk bottle is harmless? Think again.
Leftover spoiled milk or other liquids can leak during collection and sorting, and soak into paper and cardboard, turning good recycling into waste.
Sort it out: Rinse it first, then recycle the container.
4. Garden waste
Grass clippings, weeds and garden trimmings might be natural, but they don't belong in recycling bins.
Garden waste can't be processed through the kerbside recycling system and can interfere with sorting operations.
Sort it out: Compost it at home or use a green waste service.
5. The truly unexpected
Last year, staff rescued a live kitten from a recycling load. While most unusual finds aren't quite so lucky, the incident was a reminder that recycling bins sometimes contain things that should never have been placed there in the first place.
Other unexpected items found in recycling loads have included livestock remains and other household waste that cannot be recycled.
Sort it out: Only put accepted recyclable items in your recycling bin.
Check out the Auckland Council website for what you can and cannot put in your recycling.