You can recycle, compost, shred or mulch most household waste.
The options
- Kerbside recycling is available in most urban areas in Taranaki.
- Metals, timber or large items can be recycled at transfer stations, scrap-metal dealers or other recycling services.
- You can purchase or hire a mulcher.
- If you don’t compost, take your green waste to a transfer station or use a commercial collection. There is a kerbside green waste collection in South Taranaki.
- Confidential documents can be shredded.
- Any remaining waste can be disposed of by weekly rubbish collections, at transfer stations or commercial waste collection services (drums, skip bins etc).
Useful links
Taranaki recycling directory
Information on composting
South Taranaki kerbside green waste collection
Outdoor burning
Unless your section is 5,000 square metres or larger, burning rubbish in your back yard is banned if you live in a Taranaki urban area serviced by weekly rubbish collections. See below for the urban areas where the ban applies.
The ban does not apply to outdoor fires for cooking or heating, such as barbecues, hangi or braziers.
Where backyard rubbish fires aren't allowed
Click on place name for map showing boundaries.
New Plymouth District
| Urenui | Onaero | Waitara | Lepperton | Inglewood | Egmont Village |
| Bell Block | New Plymouth | NP East | NP West | Oakura | Okato |
Stratford District
| Midhirst | Stratford |
South Taranaki District
| Opunake | Kaponga | Manaia | Ohawe Beach | Hawera |
| Eltham | Normanby | Patea | Waverley |
The ban in these areas is in accordance with Rule 34 of the Regional Air Quality Plan for Taranaki, which became operative on 25 July 2011. Click on the links for more details.
Regional Air Quality Plan for Taranaki
Rule 34 of the Regional Air Quality Plan for Taranaki (107 KB)
To report any problems with backyard burning please contact:
New Plymouth District Council phone 759 6060
Stratford District Council phone 765 6099
In South Taranaki District contact the Taranaki Regional Council, 0800 736 222
Outdoor burning in rural areas
Make sure there are no effects beyond your property boundary.
- Allow vegetation to dry before burning.
- Keep fires at least 50 metres from a road or 100 metres from a highway or neighbouring house.
- Check the wind direction and strength before lighting a fire.
- Tyres or used oil cannot be burned in the open.