How do I make a complaint about littering or illegal dumping of rubbish?
Please contact a member of Council’s customer care team.  You will need to provide details including the exact location, date and time witnessed, any identification such as registration number, make, model and colour of vehicle involved, details of person/s involved.

Who deals with rubbish falling off a moving vehicle?
If the rubbish is not being deliberately or knowingly deposited it is regarded an insecure load and is a matter for the Police to deal with.

Do I need to use an  approved rubbish bag if I want my rubbish to be collected as part of the kerbside rubbish bag and recycling collection?
Yes, you must use a pre-paid green bag. These are available for purchase from local hardware shops, dairies and supermarkets.

Why hasn’t my rubbish bag been picked up?
The kerbside rubbish collection is not a Council run activity. Rubbish must be placed in a pre-paid bag or it will not be collected. Bags must be placed at kerbside by 7.30am on the day of collection only.  Enquiries and complaints about kerbside rubbish bags should be directed to either: 

• Environmental Green Bins (green pre-paid bags) - telephone 07 543 1098
• Katikati Bin Hire (red pre-paid bags) - telephone 07 549 2933

Where can I dispose of unused household chemicals?
Council has hazardous waste storage sheds at its recycling centres in Waihi Beach and Katikati.  These sheds provide secure, fully bunded storage for all household hazardous waste (HHW) before they are removed from the site for recycling or disposal.  If you have HHW to get rid of, please fill out a hazardous waste declaration form which must be completed and taken with the HHW to the recycling centres during opening hours.

Small quantities of labelled and identifiable HHW (less than 30kg or litres per household), in a suitable leak-proof container, can be accepted, although the final decision on acceptance of the waste will be made by the site operator.

Household hazardous chemicals include solvents, paint, paint strippers, glues, pesticides, rat bait, petrol, oil and other vehicle products, kitchen and oven cleaners, bleach and disinfectants, polish for furniture and shoes, wood preservatives, garden chemicals, fertilisers, toilet and drain cleaners, pool chemicals, batteries, nail polish and nail polish remover.

Please note the following are not HHW and will not be accepted:

• unknown or unlabelled chemicals
• empty spray containers (should be triple rinsed and go in normal rubbish) or brought to the Agrecovery site at 336 Omokoroa Road)
• empty paint cans (normal rubbish).  For paint cans containing a small amount of paint, add some sand or cement to solidify the paint, or leave the tin in the sun without the lid until dried up.  Dispose in normal rubbish.  Lead based paints are a hazardous waste and can be accepted at the centre.
• smoke alarms (normal rubbish)
• asbestos (please refer to licensed asbestos operators in the Yellow Pages)
• pharmaceuticals (return to pharmacy)

How can I get rid of my unwanted car?
The following wreckers accept cars for dumping at no cost, athough there may be a charge if vehicles need to be collected:

• Free Car Dump, 54 Maleme Street, Tauranga - telephone 07 543 0020
• Metalman Recyclers, 6 Koromiko Street, Tauranga - telephone 07 578 3500

For a $40 fee, your unwanted car will also be taken off your hands by Te Puke Parts World, 19 Atuaroa Avenue, Te Puke - telephone 07 573 0160.