Rubbish & Recycling Collection

Rubbish is collected every week. Your blue glass recycling bin and yellow mixed recycling bin are collected on alternate weeks.   

Head to reminders.saveourstuff.co.nz and type in your address to find out what your collection day is  and which bins to put out when.  

You can also download and print a hard copy of the collection calendar below: 

• 2023-24 Whakatipu Collection Calendar (PDF, 1MB)

• 2023-24 Wānaka Collection Calendar (PDF, 1MB)

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Your rubbish and recycling need to be out on the kerb (or your designated collection point) before 7.00am on your rubbish day. 

NOTE: Please be sure to bring your bin back in on the same day after your rubbish has been collected. Collection points, footpaths, and road reserves, are only for the temporary placement of rubbish and recycling for collection.

Your bins should only be put out on the kerb (or your designated collection point) the night before or on the morning of your collection day before 7.00am.

Placing your bins out correctly for collection and bringing them back in on the same day helps keep the footpaths clear and safe. We want to keep our streets safe, attractive and accessible for everyone to enjoy.

On collection day, please take a minute to put your bins out properly.  It helps keep the footpaths clear, safe and looking tidy.  It also helps the drivers get around their routes quicker. 

Top tips for presenting your bin:

• On kerbside, close to the road. 

• Give your bins space, they should be at least 50cm apart. 

• Bins should be facing out, lids closed flat. 

• 1 metre away from solid objects. 

• Bins should not weigh more than 70kgs

We provide free Wheelie Bin Clips to Queenstown Lakes District residents to help prevent  rubbish and recycling pollution if a bin is blown over.  The clips self-release when the bin is tipped into the  truck. 

The free clips can be collected at Council offices on Gorge Road or Shotover Street (Queenstown) or Ardmore Street (Wānaka).

There are no kerbside collections on Good Friday, ANZAC Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Kerbside collections scheduled for those days will take place on the following day. Please put your bin out by 7.00am as collections start early.

Collections for the rest of the week may also be affected. Check the timetable below for a full list of changes due to public holidays.

Holiday Collection Timetable 2024/25 

Holiday Collection Timetable 2025/26 

Kerbside collection days are not affected by any other public holidays.

If you're rubbish at remembering, sign up for free reminders and take the stress out it! 

reminders.saveourstuff.co.nz 

• Transfer Stations: Closed on Christmas Day, New Years Day, Good Friday and the morning of ANZAC day (until 1.00pm).

• Wakatipu Recycling Centre (including public drop off): Closed on Christmas Day, New Years Day, Good Friday and the morning of ANZAC day (until 1.00pm).

It can be challenging for some Multi-unit developments (MUD) to store three bins per household.  

Council and Waste Management  will work with new MUD's to determine the best option for kerbside collections. 

If it is not possible for the Council service to meet your needs, then the whole multi-unit development may opt out of the council service and engage a commercial waste provider.  To opt out, every property in the MUD must complete the following form: 

Yes, you can get extra recycling bins for kerbside collections.

Phone 0800 22 24 31 and ask for an “enhanced service” for Queenstown Lakes.

There will be a charge involved.

For those people in the community that may require assistance there is an on property service available.    This is for those who due to disability, impairment or frailty, have difficulty getting their wheelie bins to the kerbside. 

If you would like to be considered for this service please complete the form below and return to services@qldc.govt.nz or drop it into one of the Council offices. 

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide evidence of your situation, and a site visit will be conducted to better understand your needs.

There are a number of streets around the district that Waste Management have advised can not be serviced safely by the trucks. These properties have alternative collection points.