Items we're not collecting and why

Batteries

Individual schools and central service units are responsible for recycling batteries from their area. Our recycling partners Interwaste will supply battery recycling buckets as requested, and once full, will pick them up. Interwaste will require a purchase order at the time of this request being made.

Interwaste contact details—phone: 0800 102 131, email: wellington@interwaste.co.nz.

You can take your batteries from home to some Bunnings and Mitre10 stores.

Coffee capsules

Some brands of coffee capsule are being collected but we are limited by what the recycling company can recycle. The best alternatives are still to avoid purchasing capsule machines or using refillable capsules.

Compostable plates, bowls, cutlery etc.

Commercial compost collection companies in Wellington cannot take compostable containers, cutlery etc. on a regular basis as it unbalances their compost. A better solution is reusables.

Curtains

You can take curtains to The Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, Te Aro. We don’t have the resourcing for this right now.

Face masks, gloves and PPE

Our only option for these at present is costly and involves flying them to Australia.

Lids

All plastic and metal lids can be dropped off to: The Sustainability Trust, 2 Forresters Lane, Te Aro. You need to keep plastic and metal lids separate. We don’t collect these as there is a charge for sending them to Australia for recycling.

DO NOT PUT ANY LIDS IN THE CAMPUS RECYCLING BINS

Pens

New, still working - Drop them off to the table outside VUWSA

Used – The free programme for recycling these has closed. Put them in the red general waste bins.

Plastic bread tags

This programme has closed. Remember paper bread tags are too small for recycling and can either go in your home compost or the red general waste bin.

Polystyrene

Expol have a limited number of collection points for household polystyrene waste (up to two rubbish bags). For schools and service units, disposal can be organised by raising a BEIMS request including a cost centre code.

Soft plastic

The company that collects soft plastic for recycling does not have the capacity for us have recycling at the university. Soft plastic can be dropped off at selected supermarkets – find your nearest store here

Takeaway coffee cups

Takeaway coffee cups can’t be recycled or composted (even the ones with convincing “eco” promises written on them) so our preference is to prevent cup usage all together. Have your coffee in a real cup at one of our cafés or grab an Auraki and return it to one of the grey collection bins. Takeaway cups and lids all go in the red general waste bins.

Tetra Paks /  Food and Beverage Cartons

We are trialling Tetra Pak collection at Kelburn in 2025 - you can check  Recycling Kiwi for details on how to prepare and recycle them.

Used stationery

The free programme for recycling this has closed, and the alternative is costly, time consuming and involves flying them to Australia.