Me pēhea te whakamahi i ō ipupara rukenga kai
How to use your food scraps bin
What you can put in your food scraps bin
- Fruit and vegetable scraps, including peelings, cores, stalks and skin.
- Bread, pasta and rice.
- Dairy products.
- Meat bones and scraps, including fat trimmings.
- Fish bones and scraps, including shellfish shells.
- Egg shells, nut shells and coconut husks.
- Coffee grounds and tea leaves.
- Fats/oils – solidified (if possible).
- Indoor cut flowers.
- Auckland Council compostable bin liners - for more information, including availability, see
Food scraps collection bins and bin liners.
- Any type of certified home compostable bin liner.
- Paper to line your
kitchen caddy to help soak up any liquids.
What you cannot put in your food scraps bin
- Plastic bags.
- Disposable food containers (including compostable items).
- Food wrapping, including cling film, waxed paper or aluminium foil.
- Cloth and clothing.
- Nappies and sanitary products.
- Pet waste.
- Liquids or chemicals.
- Cigarette butts.
- Soil or rocks.
- Garden waste like weeds, lawn clippings or hedge trimmings.
- Tea/coffee bags (as these may contain plastic).
For information on how to make the most of your food scraps collection service, see
Food scraps collection bins and bin liners.
You should know
We cannot accept compostable items like packaging, cups or cutlery because these are not food scraps and therefore you must not put them in the food scraps bin.
What to do on your rubbish collection day
Put your food scraps bin out for collection on your council rubbish collection day.
How to place your bins
- Put your food scraps bin out to the side of your wheelie bins (not in front, behind, or between wheelie bins) - leave a large gap between bins so they don't get knocked over.
- Leave the handle up to lock the bin lid in place and also make it easy for the collector to pick the bin up - if the handle doesn't lock properly, try pressing down on the lid.
Our tip
It is important to leave your kitchen caddy in the kitchen - do not put it out for collection either in the food scraps bin or on its own.
Our rubbish and recycling trucks have mechanical arms that need space to operate safely.
Where possible, put rubbish, recycling, and food scraps bins away from power poles, trees, parked cars, other bins, and other obstructions.
This will help our drivers find your food scraps bin and will stop your food scraps bin being knocked over by the mechanical arm.
If you share the berm with your neighbours, put your food scraps bins together in a cluster.
This will make more room for your rubbish and recycling bins.
Find out
what to do if there's a problem with your bin or collection.
How to keep your food scraps bin clean
- Use a compostable bin liner for your kitchen caddy or wrap your food scraps in newspaper.
- Change your compostable bin liner for a new one every two to three days to prevent spills and odours.
- You can also line your kitchen caddy and roadside bin with paper bags, newspaper, or a paper towel to soak up any liquid - do not use plastic bags.
- Store your food scraps in the fridge or freezer.
- Rinse your roadside bin regularly to avoid smells.
Compostable liners are not compulsory. You can use your food scraps bin with no liner at all.
More information
Related topics
Inorganic collections | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/inorganic-collections | Inorganic collections | Book your inorganic collection and find out what you can put out as inorganic waste. | | | | aspx | | | | | | | | | Inorganic waste | |
Rubbish, recycling and food scraps bin information | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/bin-requests | Rubbish, recycling and food scraps bin information | Request new or replacement bins, bin repairs, or different-sized bins. Also find information about bin options and charges. | | | | aspx | | | | | | | | | Rubbish
Recycling | |
How to get rid of unwanted items | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/Pages/get-rid-unwanted-items.aspx | How to get rid of unwanted items | Find out the disposal options for each type of waste or unwanted item. | | | | aspx | | | | | | | | | Recycling | |
Find your rubbish, recycling, and food scraps collection day | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/rubbish-recycling-collections/Pages/rubbish-recycling-collection-days.aspx | Find your rubbish, recycling, and food scraps collection day | Search for household and commercial rubbish, recycling and food scraps collection dates. | | | | aspx | | | | | | | | | Waste
Rubbish
Recycling | |
Reduce your food scraps and garden waste | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/rubbish-recycling/ways-reduce-waste/Pages/reduce-food-garden-waste.aspx | Reduce your food scraps and garden waste | Learn how to minimise food scraps and garden waste. | | | | aspx | | | | | | | | | Reducing waste | |
How to dispose of weeds | | https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/environment/plants-animals/pests-weeds/Pages/how-to-dispose-weeds.aspx | How to dispose of weeds | You need to be careful when disposing of weeds. Check which transfer stations accept green waste or have a garden company collect the weeds you removed. | | | | aspx | | | | | | | | | Biosecurity | |
Is the information on this page helpful?
It is helpful for us to know what works well for customers.
You will not receive a reply. Do not include personal information.