Is your property in zone one and eligible for recycling collection?
Use this map and find out what day and week to put your glass crate and wheelie bin on the street.
The Buller District is divided into three zones for recycling and refuse. Each of these zones has their specific guidelines for recycling and refuse.
Is your property in zone one and eligible for recycling collection?
Use this map and find out what day and week to put your glass crate and wheelie bin on the street.
There’s a great deal that you can do to reduce waste and recycling is key. Although we don’t have any processing facilities here in Buller, we collect recycling to be processed elsewhere. You can see below how the refuse and recycling zones work and find out more on our what can be recycled page.
Refuse is any waste or item which cannot be recycled after use. Examples are certain types of packaging, toothbrushes, clothes, household items but also tires, furniture or even car parts.
If there is no means of reusing or processing these items, they have reached their end of life and the only safe treatment is to dispose these items in a landfill.
Zone one is a managed by contractor, Smart Environmental Limited.
Each eligible zone one property has a 45 litre crate for glass recycling and a 240 litre wheelie bin for all other recycling. They are collected fortnightly. Refuse is collected weekly. If you are new to the area or would like extra bins, you need to request a bin.
What do you pay for when purchasing your official rubbish bag?
When purchasing an official rubbish bag in Buller you are pre-paying for all the costs associated with disposing of your waste and there is lots in it.
This end-to-end service includes the collection from your house, the handling at the Transfer Station, the transport to Nelson with a truck, and the safe and compliant disposal of your waste at the York Valley Landfill in Nelson, as well as other related expenses.
You can imagine, your rubbish goes through many hands, travels a long way, and the process requires specialised equipment and facilities.
What is classified as recycling?
How is my recycling bin audited?
Our Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Buller page has more guidance on recycling right.
What happens with my recycling in zone one?
For a quick and easy summary, or if you are new to the district and want to get a recycling bin, read our All you need to know about recycling in Buller July 2022
Is your property in zone one and eligible for recycling collection?
To find out if your property is eligible for kerbside collection head to our collection days page. You can also check this map to find your house and see what day and week to put your glass crate and wheelie bin on the street.
Zone one is a managed by contractor, Smart Environmental Limited. If you want to set up and account or have any queries, contact Smart Environmental Limited, or phone 03 789 6427.
Zone Two covers the Karamea area north of the Mōkihinui Bridge. This area is managed by Buller District Council.
You can pay with Eftpos or cash. Charge accounts are only allowed for certain government institutions. See our Karamea Fees and Charges for prices.
What is classified as recycling?
What happens with my recycling in zone two?
Recycling is transported to the Westport transfer station where it is checked, sorted and compacted to be sent to processing plants.
Opening hours for the Karamea Resource Recovery Centre and Disposal Facility:
See our fees and charges for the details on pricing and what can be disposed of and/or recycled.
Queries about refuse and recycling in Karamea should go to Buller District Council phone 0800 807 239.
Zone Three covers the area beyond Blacks Point including Springs Junction and Maruia. This area is managed by Buller District Council.
Refuse is anything that cannot be recycled after being used.
What is classified as recycling?
Residents need to take their recycling to the Reefton Transfer Station where plastics #1, #2 and #5, cardboard, paper, aluminium tins and glass are accepted if rinsed, cleaned, checked.
What happens with my recycling?
Recycling is transported to the Westport transfer station where it is checked, sorted and compacted to be sent to processing plants.
Queries about refuse and recycling in Maruia should go to Buller District Council phone 0800 807 239.
Opening hours for the Maruia landfill:
If you want to see what happens once your recycling arrives at the Westport Transfer Station, watch this video.