A-Z guide to waste prevention and resource recovery
Refer to this guide to build your understanding of our resource recovery systems.
Introduction
To support our ambitious target of reducing all forms of waste by 50% by 2030, Facilities Management and the Environment and Sustainability Office have created this A-Z guide of waste and resource recovery.
Our hope is that in using the guide, staff and students:
- Find it easier to understand where different materials can go.
- Note the differences between the University's contracts and Auckland Council's domestic systems.
- Appreciate the limitations of New Zealand's processing facilities, and that we rely heavily on exporting materials offshore to other countries.
Most importantly, we hope readers of the guide will embrace the task of preventing waste upstream. This includes rethinking convenience and employing sustainable procurement principles, such as including circularity requirements into expressions of interest, requests for proposals, and contracts with suppliers.
Please note: We understand that members of our community are sometimes keen to set up new collection systems on campus. Setting up new systems is often complex and may not achieve the desired outcome. We will put effort into this when it is justified and we have high levels of confidence that materials will be recycled.
A
Aerosol cans
Our current waste and recycling contracts do not include aerosol cans. You can place these in our general waste bins. This stream is sent to landfill. Alternatively, you can explore taking this to a local transfer station or metal recycler.
Aluminium cans
Our current waste and recycling contracts include aluminium cans. You can place these in our bottle and can bins. This stream is sent to a sorting facility and sent on for reprocessing. Aluminium cans are typically remanufactured into new aluminium cans and other products.
Aluminium foil or trays
Our current waste and recycling contracts do not include aluminium foil or trays. You can place these in our general waste bins. This stream is sent to landfill. Alternatively, you can explore taking this to a metal recycler.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a hazardous item, disposed of by specialist companies. If you suspect it has been disturbed, alert everyone in the immediate area and inform security. Learn more on this page: Asbestos material – unexpected disturbance
B
Batteries
Our current waste and recycling contracts include a battery collection service on an as needed basis. You can place all types of office batteries in 4L or 10L pails at various locations on campus. Check with facilities management staff in your department for the closest pail. Some batteries are sent offshore for recycling, while others are encapsulated and sent to a Grade 1 landfill for burial.
C
Cardboard
Our current waste and recycling contracts include clean cardboard (i.e. no food, paint or other chemicals). You can flatten and place cardboard boxes next to yellow wheelie bins in print areas for removal. If you have a large volume, please take to the cardboard bins. If you need help locating your closest bin, contact cleaning@auckland.ac.nz. Crown moving boxes must be returned to Crown. Cardboard is typically reprocessed into new cardboard boxes, smaller cereal boxes, fruit trays and egg cartons.
Confidential paper
Our current waste and recycling contracts include a confidential paper collection service. You can place confidential paper in the dark blue wheelie bins in print rooms. Check the locations with facilities management staff in your department. Confidential paper is shredded and sold for reprocessing into new paper products.
Construction and demolition waste
Resource recovery and waste disposal in the context of major building projects and minor refurbishments is overseen by Property Services. Specialist construction and demolition waste companies are contracted to manage this waste stream, including those specialised in asbestos.
E
E-waste
Our current waste and recycling contracts include e-waste (e.g. toaster, kettle) collection services on an as needs basis. These companies are specialised in breaking electronic items down into smaller components, some of which are exported oversees to be further processed and recycled. If you have an electronic item you wish to include within this stream, contact facilities management staff in your department.
F
Food scraps
Our current waste and recycling contracts include a food waste collection service from a number of collection points. These are usually located near facilities that generate pre-consumer food scraps, such as retailers, commercial kitchens and catered accommodation halls. Food scraps are delivered to commercial composting facilities offsite, where they are processed into compost products. The university is exploring the feasibility of a broader campus-wide collection system. If you have questions about this, please get in touch through cleaning@auckland.ac.nz.
Furniture
Our current processes for managing furniture that is no longer wanted include rehoming items in other departments or rehoming off-campus. We have arrangements with furniture suppliers who take back and refurbish their products. We also work with companies who specialise in rehoming, refurbishment or recycling furniture and other bulky items as needed. Contact facilities management staff in your department to discuss your needs.
G
Glass bottles and jars
Our current waste and recycling contracts include glass bottles and jars. You can place these in our bottle and can bins. This stream is sent to a sorting facility and sent on for reprocessing. In Auckland, bottles and jars are typically crushed, melted down and remoulded into new glass bottles.
Green waste
The Grounds team in Property Services manages green waste resulting from maintaining our campus grounds.
H
Hazardous waste
Common examples of hazardous wastes include most chemicals, paint, acid and gas cylinders. If you suspect your waste may be hazardous, please discuss with facilities management in your department, as specialist services may be required.
L
Lids (plastic and metal)
In line with the national shift towards excluding small lids in household recycling, our current waste and recycling contractors prefer that small lids from bottles and other containers are left out in our bottle and can recovery stream. We have noticed at least one lid collection scheme has cropped up. Collecting lids is not a top priority for our waste reduction efforts. We prefer that the university community focuses efforts on engaging suppliers in finding solutions that do not involve single-use packaging. If you wish to support the scheme, you can arrange drop off to one of the collection points. See caps and lids recycling scheme.
Lightbulbs or tubes
Our current waste and recycling contracts include a collection for lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes which are swapped out by our contractors. It is important that these items do not go in bins, as they contain mercury which can pollute land and waterways. When full, these are collected and sent to a specialist recycling plant for recycling. Some examples of by-products from lights include: Aluminium recycled into cast products such as ingot, glass recycled into glass wool for insulation, mercury reused in dental amalgam, and phosphor powder reused in the manufacture of fertiliser products.
M
Medical waste
Our current waste and recycling contracts include a medical waste collection service, with various collection points. If you require access to these services, talk to facilities management in your department to discuss needs and safety protocols.
Metals
The recovery of metals in the context of maintenance by university contractors, major building projects and minor refurbishments is overseen by Property Services. Specialist construction and demolition waste companies are contracted to recover various types of metals, such, ferrous (e.g. steel, cast iron), and non-ferrous (e.g. copper, aluminium) for recycling. If you have small quantities of metal, contact facilities management staff in your department to discuss delivery to a metal recycler.
P
Paper
Our current waste and recycling contracts include paper. You can place office paper, small pieces of cardboard, newspaper, magazines, envelopes and plain greeting cards into yellow wheelie bins in print rooms or print areas. Staff can use their desktop paper recycling tray in the interim, and empty this into the wheelie bin.
Paper cups
Despite what their labels may imply, paper cups cannot be sent for recycling or composting through the systems available to us. They have a petrochemical or bioplastic layer which is what enables them to retain heat and repel liquid. They may also contain additives that are harmful to soil health. Paper recycling plants cannot separate the layers, and composting facilities have no demand for food packaging as it does not decompose fast enough. When paper cups are added to these streams, they typically need to be filtered out and sent to landfill, which is time-consuming and costly for operators. The best approach is to avoid using disposable cups, and to choose reusable.
Pizza boxes
Our current waste and recycling contracts do include cardboard pizza boxes. Remove food scraps and any plastic from your pizza box and place in a 660L or 1110L green cardboard bin at one of our waste collection points. If you need assistance to find your closest collection point, contact cleaning@auckland.ac.nz. Avoid using pizza boxes if you can to prevent waste. Rethink your catering plan with the Sustainable Events Guide.
Plastic bottles (#1 and #2)
Our current waste and recycling contracts include plastic bottles and containers with #1 (polyethylene terephthalate) or #2 (high density polyethylene) stamped on them. You can place these in our bottle and can bins. This stream is sent to a sorting facility and sent on for reprocessing. Polyethylene terephthalate is typically remanufactured into new containers, strapping, carpet fibres or cushion/jacket filling. High density polyethylene is typically remanufactured into new containers, piping, edging and bins.
Plastics (#3, #4, #5 and #7)
Our current waste and recycling contracts do not include plastics #3 (polyvinyl chloride), #4 (low density polyethylene), #5 (polypropylene), or #7 (composite). There is little to no demand for these materials and they tend to clog up the system and reduce the viability of recycling other materials with higher value. These items can be put in general waste bins. This stream goes to landfill.
Plastics #6 (polystyrene)
Our current waste and recycling contracts include a limited hard polystyrene collection service. Avoid polystyrene by requesting alternative packaging options from vendors. Polystyrene is very difficult to recycle and likely to end up in landfill. Contact facilities management in your department to find out the location of collection points.
R
Reusables
Using reusables is a great way to support circularity and prevent waste. Routinely carrying a drink bottle, cup for hot drinks, and cutlery means you will always be prepared. You will notice many campus retailers offer discounts for people who bring their own containers and cups. In our newest facilities (e.g. B2 Social in B201, the new Recreation Centre) we have cup libraries, where you can borrow a mug for a takeaway drink and return it later. Thanks for playing your part in preventing waste in the first place!
S
Soft plastics
Our waste and recycling contracts do not include soft plastics collection. Our position on soft plastics is to encourage staff and students look for opportunities for upstream prevention, through procurement and more sustainable consumption. Unlike other materials that are virtually infinitely recyclable (e.g. aluminium, glass), plastic degrades each time it is recycled and will sooner or later be landfilled. If you wish to collect soft plastics, you can find a collection point in this store locator.
Steel / tin cans
Our current waste and recycling contracts include steel / tin cans. You can place these in our bottle and can bins. This stream is sent to a sorting facility and sent on for reprocessing. Steel cans are typically remanufactured into new steel cans or may be made into wire or used in appliances such as washing machines or fridges.