Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) says residents should be aware of changes to kerbside recycling which will affect the products they can put in their yellow mixed bins.

Kerbside recycling will be standardised across the country from the start of February - meaning all councils will accept the same set of materials in their household collections.  

Queenstown Lakes District is well ahead of the change, already accepting most items on the standardised list of recyclables, QLDC senior sustainability advisor Kath Buttar said.

The “one small change” within the district is an increase to the number of products which can go in yellow mixed recycling bins.

More plastics marked ♳ - including meat trays, punnets and coloured bottles - can go in the yellow mixed bin from the start of next month.

Clean aluminium and steel cans and clean paper and cardboard can still go in the yellow mixed bins too.

Red bins should continue to be used for soft plastics, coffee cups, drink cartons, lids, plastics ♵♶♸ or ♹, and plastic or foil lined paper and cardboard.  

There is no change to glass recycling.

Kath said the standardisation will have multiple benefits, including helping to reduce confusion about what can and cannot be recycled at the kerbside. 

It will also “improve the quality and quantity of the materials collected for reprocessing in local and international markets”, she said.

“The changes will also give businesses more clarity around the packaging materials that will be accepted for recycling throughout the country.”

Residents can collect updated collateral like bin lid stickers and ‘Recycle with Care’ brochures from QLDC offices and local libraries.

PHOTO: Wānaka App