- Recovery rates have risen from 16% to 27%.
- More items are finding a second life in local communities.
- On-property collections are improving reuse and recovery.
New data shows a consistent upward trend in how much material is recovered through Auckland’s inorganic collection service, helping Aucklanders give unwanted items a second life while supporting local communities through repair, reuse and redistribution.
Since the shift to a booked, on-property system in 2015-16, the proportion of items diverted from landfill has been increasing. In the past four years, it has increased significantly from an average of around 16% in 2022–23 to around 27% in 2025–26.
The gains in recovery have occurred even as the total amount of inorganic material collected has remained steady at around 7,000 tonnes a year.
The figures reflect a gradual but sustained improvement, with more furniture, appliances and other household goods now being repaired, reused or redistributed through community organisations instead of ending up in landfill.
A system designed for reuse
The improvement is largely driven by how the service operates.
By requiring residents to place items within their property boundary, materials are better protected from weather damage and scavenging, making them far more likely to be reused.
Items are collected, sorted and assessed, with reusable goods redistributed through a network of community organisations, charities and social enterprises across Auckland.
Councillor Richard Hills says the service is about getting more value out of the resources we already have.
“The inorganic collection service supports our goal of becoming a zero-waste city by keeping reusable materials in circulation and reducing what goes to landfill.
“We’re seeing real progress as improved systems, strong community connections and changing behaviours come together. Just as importantly, it’s a practical, ratepayer-funded service that makes it easy for Aucklanders to do the right thing with their unwanted items,” says Councillor Hills.
"Before Auckland moved away from kerbside inorganic collections, almost everything collected was treated as waste and sent to landfill. Today, more and more items are being recovered, repaired, reused and redistributed through communities across Auckland. That's a significant shift in the value we're getting from resources that would once have been thrown away."
Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves says the inorganic collection service works because it is designed to enable recovery and reuse.
“Collecting items from within properties means they arrive in better condition, and separating materials at the point of collection helps protect what can be reused. From there, items are sorted and redistributed through community networks.
“As those processes have become more connected and refined over time, we’re seeing more material successfully recovered and kept in use,” says Ms Haves.
Community impact driving results
Recovered items are making a tangible difference across the region, supporting both environmental and social outcomes.
Approved community collector Jen Aldridge from The Gentle Art Company sees possibility where others see waste. Using materials gathered through inorganic collections, she creates handcrafted pieces and runs workshops that encourage others to get creative with what’s already available. From repurposed books turned into journals to everyday items transformed into art, her work highlights how inorganic collections can inspire creativity and keep valuable materials in circulation.
Robert Bruce’s Got To Get Out initiative is giving discarded bikes a second chance and helping people get moving. Many bikes collected through inorganic collections arrive at the Wairau Zero Waste Hub with simple, fixable issues. A small team of staff and volunteers repairs them, replaces worn parts, and cleans them so they’re ready to ride again. The refurbished bikes are given to people in the community, helping reduce waste while providing an affordable, low-emissions way to get around.
Bookings now open
Bookings are now open for collections through to May 2027, with June 2027 dates to be released before August 2026. Collections are scheduled by area.
Find your collection week and book your spot using the online booking tool, visiting one of our libraries with council services or phoning 09 301 0101.