Wellington Rubbish & Recycling

How to find your bin day in Wellington, what goes in each bin, and where to drop off everything else.

Wellington collects official yellow rubbish bags every week, and recycling on the same day, with paper, cans and plastics one week and glass the next. Here is how to find your collection day, what goes in each bin, and where to take everything else.

Wellington City Council sets your collection day by street. Enter your street name in the lookup to see your day and which recycling goes out, or download a calendar for your street.

Find my collection day
Rubbish bags every weekOfficial yellow bags out on your collection day
Recycling and glass take turnsOne goes out each week, on your rubbish day. The council's street lookup shows which.

Have your bins out by 7am on collection day, but not before 7pm the night before.

Which bin does it go in?

Official rubbish bagRubbish · every week

Yes

  • Household rubbish in official yellow council bags
  • Sharp items wrapped well in paper
  • A little green waste (no more than 10%)

No

  • Unofficial bags
  • Hazardous waste
  • Hot ashes
  • Liquids, even in containers
  • Bags over 15kg

Sold at supermarkets, some dairies and libraries, and council service desks.

Yellow-lid recycling binRecycling · every 2 weeks

Yes

  • Plastics 1, 2 or 5, clean and not squashed
  • Cardboard boxes and pizza boxes
  • Paper bigger than a postcard
  • Tins and cans, clean and not squashed

No

  • Lids, pumps and triggers
  • Plastic bags and soft plastics
  • Polystyrene and tin foil
  • Drink cartons and coffee cups
  • Shredded or food-soiled paper
  • Batteries, paint and gas bottles

Some homes use clear recycling bags instead of a bin.

Glass crateGlass · every 2 weeks

Yes

  • Clear and coloured glass bottles and jars, clean, lids off

No

  • Lids
  • Broken glass
  • Ceramics
  • Drinking glasses and cups
  • Mirrors and window glass

Public holidays

There is no collection on Christmas Day, New Year's Day or Good Friday. Those collections move to the following Saturday. All other public holidays are as normal.

Coming up: Christmas Day is Friday 25 December, so Friday collections move to Saturday 26 December. New Year's Day is Friday 1 January, so Friday collections move to Saturday 2 January.

Drop-off points

Southern Landfill and Transfer Station

Landfill Road, off Happy Valley Road

Monday to Saturday 7.30am to 5pm; Sunday 9am to 5pm (closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday)

Rubbish (fee)Green wasteHazardous wasteDirections

Tip Shop and Recycle Centre

Landfill Road, Owhiro Bay

Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm; Sunday 9am to 4.30pm (closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday)

RecyclingE-wasteReusable goodsDirections

Good to know

What about the inner city?

Inner-city rubbish is collected every night and recycling on Tuesday nights. Put it out between 5.30pm and 10pm. City-centre homes can use any clear plastic bag for recycling.

I don't have a recycling wheelie bin. What do I use?

Only listed properties get a wheelie bin. Other homes outside the city centre get 52 clear recycling bags delivered each year.

My rubbish wasn't collected. What now?

If it hasn't been collected by 3pm on your collection day, call the council on 04 499 4444.

Bin rules and drop-off points from the Wellington City Council website. Checked 22 October 2026.