Getting kerbside collection right

There’s been an uptick in the number of people needing new wheelie bins because theirs have gone missing on collection day.

If this happens to you, you need to call the bin’s owner, Christchurch City Council, to get a new one. You need to do it within 48 hours of the bin going missing to avoid being charged for a replacement.

You’ll need to call the council on 0800 800 169 or 03 941 8999 and select Option 3: Services.

Before you do, it’s a good idea to check around as the bin may have been taken in by another tenant.

Sometimes, the bin might have accidentally fallen into the hopper of the collection truck. The council contractor will leave a note in your letterbox to let you know, and a replacement bin will be delivered within 4 days.

Why wasn’t my bin collected?

The city council and its contractors are in charge of collection. Here are some of the reasons bins mightn’t be emptied:

Contamination: make sure you only put clean recyclables in your yellow bin, and green waste in your green waste bin. Put everything else in the red bin.

Stolen: If the bin doesn’t match the address it won’t be collected. The number code on the side of the bin tells the truck whether the bin is where it belongs.

Too late or wrong bin: Make sure you get your bin out nice and early, and that it’s the same colour as all the others on the street!

You’ll find heaps more information on the council’s website.

Keeping track of what bin, when

There’s an easy way to know what to put in your bin, and when your bins are collected.

Download the council’s Bins app! Follow this council link to get to the download.

It allows you to

• search for your address.

• Set reminders to put out and take in your bins.

• Look up items to see what can be recycled, made into organic compost, disposed as rubbish or taken to an EcoDrop Recycling Centre.

• Bin collection information for multiple addresses.

• Stay updated with public holiday collection changes.

• Learn helpful tips on reducing waste and how to bin good.

Kerbside recycling rules have changed

What you can put in your yellow and green bins for kerbside collection changed in February 2024.

We can put these in our yellow bin: plastic bottles; clear meat trays and containers with recycling numbers 1, 2 and 5; food and drink tins and cans; paper, cardboard, and glass bottles and jars. All other recycling numbers go in the red bin.

Empty pizza boxes now go in the yellow bin. Tea bags, shredded paper, serviettes, paper towels and aerosol cans go in the red rubbish bin. All lids, soft plastics and drink cartons must continue to go in the red bin.

We still have to put lids in the red bin and rinse all items before putting them in our yellow bins.

You’ll find heaps more information on the council’s website.