Auckland Council confiscating recycling bins in bid to stop people putting rubbish in wrong place

Auckland Council has been confiscating recycling bins in an effort to stop people throwing rubbish in the wrong bin.

Some 104 bins were seized from households from Manurewa, Papakura and Wiri in the first phase of a trial to combat growing contamination of recycling, which ended in May 2024.

General manager of waste solutions Justine Haves said bins were confiscated from residents who repeatedly put rubbish in their recycling bin, even after warnings.

Recycling contamination from bagged waste, clothing and textiles was getting worse, Haves said, and intervention was needed.