Recyclable Materials
If it can’t be re-used, the next best option is to recycle. Here is a summary of what materials can and can’t be recycled at the Waitaki Resource Recovery Park:
So what has happened?
The Waitaki Resource Recovery Park (WRRP) has been proudly supporting Oamaru in responsible waste management since 2003. Unfortunately, external factors have now forced us to make some changes to what materials our facility can and can’t accept until further notice.
Recycling the WRRP accepts:
Plastics
Types 1, 2 & 5
(Domestic General – excludes industrial or farm plastics)
All PET plastic bottles. We can only accept whole bottles such as soda, juice, and water bottles (NO LIDS). Clear clean meat trays.
Harder, less flexible plastic. We accept all type 2 plastic including all milk and cream bottles, shampoo and detergent bottles.
1 litre yogurt containers, Chinese style takeaway containers, some honey/jam/spray/medicine containers. Please check first. NO Straws
Polystyrene
We are now accepting polystyrene for recycling. There is a charge of $5 per bag. This is only for accepting it at our site.
For more information https://expolearth.co.nz/
Soft plastics
The WRRP can now accept some soft plastics for recycling, check the button below for more info.
Soft plastic must be brought directly to our site and not in any commercial recycling.
Magazines & Cardboard
Brown paper and cardboard should be separated and flattened where possible. Magazines (in good condition) can be taken for the shop.
We are now accepting clean newspaper (Oamaru mail and ODT size papers). We ask that people bundle their newspaper for better storage and transportation to our site.
We are currently NOT accepting most paper! Brown paper is classed as cardboard and can be recycled.
Glass
We accept clean glass bottles and jars only. Please do not include drinking glasses, crystal, light bulbs, ceramics, or window glass.
Please wash and remove lids.
Separate colours: brown, green, and clear.
Foam
Foam underlay, mattress inners, padding, and cushions.
Steel & Aluminium
WRRP recycles steel and aluminium items such as cans, lids, foil, and plates.
Please wash or rinse.
Other Material
We also accept cooking oils, used motor oil, batteries, cell phones and chargers, printer cartridges, fluorescent tubes, and low energy light bulbs. Please note that standard light bulbs are treated as rubbish.
Who takes our recyclables?
Foam
Polystyrene
Tetra-Pak
Items the WRRP does not accept as recycling:
Plastics
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to accept certain plastics. This includes most trays and punnets, along with plastics marked with number 3, 4, 6, and 7 will be treated as rubbish until further notice.
This includes clear food wraps and packaging, cling film, bread bags, plastic cutlery, polystyrene, and milk cartons. Please ensure that you separate these items from your recyclable plastic items.
Chemical dispensers, packaging, plumbing pipes, and carpet backing.
Cling film such as Glad Wrap, squeezable bottles, bread and frozen food bags.
Meat trays, plastic cutlery, toys.
Sports bottles, baby bottles, lids, oven bags.
Paper
Newspapers, flyers or general paper waste are not currently being accepted.
Dirty recyclables
It is very important that recyclables are clean to be processed. Even pizza boxes with a little bit of oil or grease cannot be recycled.
Glass
Window glass, light bulbs, drinking glasses/crystal, and ceramics can not be recycled and will be treated as rubbish.
Thank you for continuing to do your bit for our town and planet.
