FAQs

I think someone might be putting rubbish in my bins, what should I do?

Contact our Customer Service team on 07 838 6699 or info@hcc.govt.nz and we can look into it for you. 

Why is the red rubbish wheelie bin smaller than the yellow wheelie bin?

The size of the red rubbish wheelie bin was based on waste assessments and community consultations conducted in 2016 and 2017. This research found that the size of the bin would suit most Hamiltonians and also supports Hamilton’s 2018-2024 Waste Management and Minimisation Plan’s six-year targets of reducing rubbish to landfill and increasing recycling.

From the waste audit we found most of the waste in black bags was made up of recyclable and compostable items – check out this infographic. In fact, almost 50% (by weight) of waste was made up of food scraps. Because of this, the new service includes a larger mixed recycling bin which can take plastics 1-7, and a food scraps bin. When used correctly, this should limit the amount of waste going to landfill and the red bin should suit.

We encourage you to use the mixed recycling wheelie bin, glass recycling crate, and food scraps bin which should limit the amount of rubbish going into your red bin (waste). If you have excess rubbish you can take this to the Hamilton Refuse Transfer Station on Lincoln St.

For tips on how to reduce waste at home click here. 

How do I maximise space in my red bin?

Your red wheelie bin is for anything that cannot be reused or recycled. Here’s some tips to help maximise the space in this bin. 

• Make sure you’re using the other bins to separate your waste – plastics, tins, cans, paper and cardboard go in the yellow bin, glass bottles and jars in the crate, and all food scraps in the food scraps bin.
• Leave out bin liners – liners such as black bag trap items meaning there is wasted space between the bags when they’re placed in the bin. Putting rubbish straight into the bin (rather than in a plastic bag) maximises space, or if you keep a plastic liner in an inside bin then, once full, empty the contents of the bag into the red bin.
• Don’t compact items your bin too much – this might make it difficult for the materials to fall out and the bin to be emptied properly when lifted on collection.

Can I still put black bags out on the streets?

No, black rubbish bags are no longer collected if they are placed on the street - they will need to go in your red rubbish wheelie bin or taken to your nearest refuse transfer station for a fee.

Why can’t lids go in my yellow recycling bin or glass recycling crate?

Lids from plastic and glass bottles and jars are too small to be collected and processed by the recycling machinery at our Materials Recovery Facility. If left on the recyclable materials, they can become a be a health and safety hazard as they can fall when the bottle/jar is processed and get caught in machinery causing blockages. 

Recycling drop-off points for lids are available free of charge at the Refuse Transfer Station on Lincoln Street. Lids placed in these bins will be processed separately from the kerbside recycling collection. Alternatively you can put lids in the red rubbish wheelie bin but they will be sent to landfill.