The collection of rukenga kai is one of several approaches we are taking to keep food scraps out of the rubbish. Other initiatives include:
- preventing food waste in the first place
- supporting redistribution of food through food rescue initiatives
- encouraging home and community composting.
For more information, visit Waste Management and Minimisation Plan.
We collect food scraps separately in Auckland’s roadside collection service. The scraps are then be converted into renewable energy and biofertiliser at an anaerobic digestion facility in Reporoa.
Learn more about anaerobic digestion.
Public consultation on the service
We announced the introduction of a food scraps collection service in the Auckland Council Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2012. The plan for the new service went through public consultation before Auckland Council adopted the plan.
The service was consulted on again as part of the Auckland Council Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2018, and then as part of the Long-term Plan 2018-2028 public consultation.
The targeted rate for the service was consulted on as part of the Annual Budget 2022/2023 and Annual Budget 2023/2024 public consultations.
At all consultations, we received public support for the service.
How you benefit from the food scraps collection service
The climate and environmental benefits of recycling food scraps are huge, but there is also a personal benefit in being more aware of your food waste.
Separating your food scraps helps raise awareness of how much food is being wasted, which can lead to better meal planning and save you money.
If you compost or have a worm farm, ka pai te mahi! You can still use your new food scraps bin for items that are not usually composted such as meat, small bones, onion skins, shellfish and dairy.
Learn more about how to use your food scraps bin.
Food scraps collections in New Zealand
The government has committed to making food scraps services available to all urban areas in New Zealand by 2030.
Food scraps collections are happening in other areas of New Zealand including Tauranga, Hamilton and New Plymouth.
Learn more about Improving household recycling and food scrap collections.
Why recycling food scraps is more sustainable than using a waste disposal unit
Food scraps are a resource which can be converted into renewable energy and fertiliser through our food scraps collection service.
If you put food scraps into a waste disposal unit, we cannot guarantee they will not end up in a landfill.
The best way to manage food scraps is to put them into a home compost or the Auckland Council food scraps bin.
Visit Reduce your food scraps and garden waste.
How we collect food scraps
Our trucks collect your food scraps every week.
Your food scraps collection day is the same day of the week as your council rubbish or recycling service.
Check your council collection day.
Place your food scraps bin roadside for collection the night before your council collection day.
Some of the food scraps collection trucks are electric. As electric vehicle technology becomes more reliable and financially viable, we will increase the number of electric vehicles for collecting food scraps.
How the food scraps are processed
Once your food scraps are picked up, they are dropped off at consolidation sites around Auckland. The food scraps are consolidated (or mixed together) and moved into larger trucks for the journey to the processing facility.
The food scraps processing plant is in the central North Island and can process food scraps from other cities and commercial companies. The plant processes 75,000 tonnes of organic material each year, including food scraps from Auckland and other councils.
The plant uses anaerobic digestion technology – a biological process that breaks down organic material without oxygen.
Food scraps are broken down in closed tanks into:
- biogas (which is captured and converted into renewable energy)
- nutrient liquid fertiliser (which is used on farmland).
This is the first time this technology has been used to process food scraps on a large scale in New Zealand.
If any contaminants (such as glass, metal or plastic) are found in the process, the plant has machinery that removes them so that they do not end up in the liquid fertiliser.
How you can access the liquid fertiliser made from your food scraps
The Beautification Trust and Auckland Council are giving away Fertify liquid fertiliser for free.
Garden lovers consider this fertiliser ‘liquid gold’ because it is rich in nutrients and minerals from food scraps.
Where to get your fertiliser
You can collect fertiliser from the Beautification Trust car park at 38 Holmes Road, Manurewa. The self-service station is to your right at the top of the driveway.
When you can pick up your fertiliser
You can access it from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday.
How much you can take
You may take up to four litres per person so that there is enough for everyone.
Safety information
- Bring your own container and use gloves when filling it.
- Attach a product information sticker so the fertiliser is not confused with anything else.
How we monitor the food scraps facility
All facilities that accept food scraps operate within their consent conditions.
The largest facilities at Papakura and Reporoa are fitted with a purpose engineered odour filtration system to ensure that odour from the buildings does not discharge into the atmosphere above resource consent limits.
