Rubbish & Recycling
Household Rubbish & Recycling
Household Rubbish Collection
Household rubbish disposal in Kaikōura District is a user-paid service and not included in rates. Roadside rubbish collection is available fortnightly in Kaikōura township, Ocean Ridge & South Bay through purchase of IWK blue bags and alternates with recycling collections (see recycling below).
- If you live outside the serviced areas or do not wish to use the collection service, please bring your rubbish secured inside a rubbish bag to IWK at 82 Scarborough Street. You will be charged $4.50 for disposal - please pay at the kiosk.
- For the household rubbish collection service, rubbish is to be secured inside a blue IWK Rubbish Bag
- Blue Rubbish bags are available to purchase locally from New World, Caltex, BP, Night and Day, IWK weighbridge for $4.50
- Maximum weight limit 15kg
- Please securely wrap any broken glass in middle of bag
Click here to view or download a 2024 rubbish & recycling calendar
Recycling Collections
Fortnightly roadside recycling collection is available in Kaikōura township, Ocean Ridge & South Bay. If the collection day is a public holiday, it will be advised on IWK's Facebook and collected the next working day.
- Kaikōura Township fortnightly on Thursdays
- Ocean Ridge & South Bay fortnightly on Fridays
- Rural recycling collection from Lynton Downs Primary School, Inland Road and Kekerengu, SH1 and Clarence SH1.
- Find out more on IWK's website here
Recent changes both in NZ and overseas mean it's harder or more expensive to recycle certain materials. If IWK collect materials that they can't recycle, ratepayers end up paying for its disposal. So don't cut corners with your kerbside recycling as it will still cost in the long run.
If you need more information, don't have a collection bin or want to check collection days/times, call the team on 03 319 7148 or visit their website or Facebook.
Top Tips for Households
Handy tips to make sure your recycling gets collected:
- Wash and squash all recycling
- Separate your recycling: Glass on its own - plastics, cans and aluminium together - cardboard and paper flattened and stacked under containers.
- Ensure there is no broken glass in your containers
- Make sure your recycling is out by 7am.
More information on the items that you can recycle available here
Business Recycling & Rubbish
Business are required by our District Plan to separate waste and recycling.
Your business' recycling can be disposed of free of charge at IWK. Alternatively, a business recycling collection service is offered. Please contact IWK for more information on the number below.
If your waste cannot be recycled it can be taken to IWK and its' disposal paid for by weight, or you may be able to have it collected for a fee.
Find out about IWK's business services by contacting them on: 03 319 7148
Tackling Illegal Waste Dumping in Kaikoura
Illegal waste dumping is any waste left on public property.
Illegal dumping has damaged our environment and spoiled parts of this precious place for everyone. In recent years dumped items have included fridges, tyres, general rubbish, animal carcasses and human waste. In addition, half a tonne of waste is taken out of the town bins every day. Town waste bins are regularly abused and used by a few locals for household or commercial rubbish.
If illegal dumping continues to grow as a problem, Council may be required to look at establishing additional enforcement and regulatory options.
What can you do to help
Tell Council about any waste you see so that we can manage it. Please provide any details of any vehicles involved, such as registration plate, colour, make and model. You can do this by:
- Putting in a request for service (leave us photos and the exact location)
- Calling 03 319 5026
- Email: kdc@kaikoura.govt.nz
- For safety reasons, and for us to investigate, we ask that people leave the dumped material as it is and don’t touch it.
What happens then?
- The job is logged in Council systems so we can track where issues are happening and how quickly and how well we deal with them.
- An inspection may be needed (especially if the issue is around human waste or other hazardous materials).
- A clean up happens and rubbish is checked to see if it can be traced back to those responsible.
