FAQs
Miscellaneous
Who is TerraNova and what do they do?
Who is Meta NZ td and what do they do?
General
How can I complain about dust or odours from the compost plant at Metro
Place?
How can I obtain further information on Refuse Bylaws?
I
would like to work on a refuse truck - how do I go about this?
Where
can I buy recycled/reusable goods?
Where can I buy trailer nets for tying down my refuse?
Where can I get information for a school project on recycling/reuse/reducing
waste etc?
Recycling
Can
I swap the item I am leaving for recycling for another item that is
there?
What can I do with my glass bottles or jars?
What type of metal is acceptable for recycling at
the EcoDepots?
When can I drop off recycling at the EcoDepots?
Where can I take carpet?
Where
can I take fridges/freezers/ovens/washing machines for disposal?
Where
can I take the waste oil from my car?
Who
can use the glass bottle recycling drop-off points at the EcoDepots?
How
do I dispose of waste oil?
What
can I do with old books that are no longer needed?
What
should I do with the used silver NOS bombs?
Where
can I recycle my old computer?
Where
can I take my used clothing or material?
Where
can I take wood/timber products for recycling?
Where
do I dispose of used or old batteries?
Can
i create my own compost at home?
EcoDepots
Can
I book a site visit to an EcoDepot or Recycling Centre?
Can
I dump my refuse bags at an EcoDepot free of charge?
Can
I set up a charge account for disposal of waste at the EcoDepots?
Do
the EcoDepots have public weighbridges?
How
can I complain about dust or odours from the compost plant at Metro
Place?
How
can I dispose of old tyres?
How
do I make a complaint about being wrongly charged, poor customer service
and/or the condition of EcoDepots?
How
much does it cost to dispose of refuse at an EcoDepot?
What
can I do with the rotten contents of my freezer that has broken down?
What
can you tell me about the RetroShed?
Who
is the RMF?
What
can I take to the EcoDepots?
Where are the EcoDepots located, and what are the
hours of operation?
Where do I take hardfill for disposal?
Why
are fees for disposal of green cheaper?
Why do we need the Christchurch City Waste Handling
facility Licensing Bylaw?
What
is accepted as 'Green' waste?
Contacts mentioned in F.A.Q's
Miscellaneous
Who is TerraNova and what do they do?
TerraNova
is a not-for-profit organisation that looks for better ways to minimise
resource use and wastage in Christchurch. We promote recycling, reuse
and resource recovery, and support these philosophies and practices
with services and resources. TerraNova processes kerbside recycling,
provides education services on waste minimisation, conducts research
into better methods of reuse and recycling, helps new enterprises related
to resource recovery, and lobbies and advises on policy at regional
and national levels. TerraNova established Meta NZ Ltd in June 2005
as an operating arm to run the three EcoDepots (then known as refuse
stations).
Who is Meta NZ td and what do they do?
Meta NZ Ltd is a company that was
established by TerraNova in June 2005 to run the three EcoDepots. Meta
NZ Ltd provides administrative and operational management of the three
EcoDepots.
General
How can I complain about dust or odours from the compost plant at Metro
Place?
If any offensive odour or dust is coming from the compost plant,
you should call both Meta NZ (who operate the EcoDepots) and Environment
Canterbury to let them know. Problems will be addressed as soon as possible
after notification. However, it may take some time for the odour or dust
to disperse.
How can I obtain further information on Refuse Bylaws?
Contact the Christchurch
City Council info line for a copy of the City Council Refuse Bylaw, or
use the link provided below.
I
would like to work on a refuse truck - how do I go about this?
Contact
Onyx NZ Ltd and discuss your interest with the Regional Manager.
Where
can I buy recycled/reusable goods?
Recycled and reusable goods can be
purchased from:
SuperShed; located at 220 Pages Rd, between Cowles Stadium and the Marae.
Eftpos facilities are available. This central warehouse is for sales only.
Business hours are: 9am to 5pm 7 days per week.
RetroShed specialises in antiques and collectables. It is located within
SuperShed.
Goods being offered for recycling must still be dropped off at the recycling
drop-off, located at the EcoDepots, during normal business hours. Sales
from the EcoDepots are not permitted.
You can also refer to the Buy
it back guide for a list of goods made of recycled products.
Businesses can use the TerraNova
Waste Exchange service to list materials they are prepared to give
away, or to obtain goods e.g. cartons for reuse.
Where can I buy trailer nets for tying down my refuse?
Trailer nets can
be purchased for $10.00 each from a Christchurch City Council Service
Centre, or any of the three EcoDepots.
Where can I get information for a school project on recycling/reuse/reducing
waste etc?
A variety of information is available from the websites below
for teachers and students undertaking studies relating to recycling and
waste minimisation.
If you have specific questions which cannot be answered by the information
on the websites then please contact Ecodepot.
For
information about visits for a classroom to an EcoDepot, compost plant,
recycling plant, and/or landfill see Learning Through Action.
Resource Catalogue for Schools list resources the Christchurch City Council
has available for schools and the contact person responsible. In some
cases there is a link to the website for direct viewing.
Recycling
Can
I swap the item I am leaving for recycling for another item that is there?
No. Swapping goods is not an acceptable practice at the EcoDepots. Recycling
drop-offs, which are located at the three EcoDepots, are for the drop
off/acceptance of recyclable/reusuable goods only.
A good option for swapping is the Buy Sell and Exchange, which provides
a free advertising service.
What can I do with my glass bottles or jars?
Glass bottles or jars used
for food or drink can be placed in small quantities in your crate at kerbside
for recycling.
Larger domestic quantities can be taken to an EcoDepot for recycling.
You are able to drop-off items at the recycling drop-off areas during
normal EcoDepot hours at no charge.
Certain organisations collect jam jars for reuse. If you have 30 or more
jars you can call the TerraNova Waste Exchange facilitator (336 0080)
to arrange for collection.
Businesses can contact commercial recyclers for glass collection (refer
to the waste minimisation directory for list) or contact TerraNova to see if they can deliver directly to site. Prior arrangement is required
before any bottles will be accepted at the processing site.
What type of metal is acceptable for recycling at the EcoDepots?
The recycling
drop-offs accept all types of scrap metal.
Examples of scrap metal are: · Aluminium, steel, Iron, copper · Air
conditioners · Car parts and drained engine blocks · Old bike frames
· Whiteware, fridges, freezers, ovens, washing machines · Old heaters
If you require more information please contact the EcoDepot office.
Businesses who have large amounts of scrap metal can also refer to the
metal section in the Waste
Minimisation Directory for commercial recyclers.
When can I drop off recycling at the EcoDepots?
You are able to drop-off
items for reuse and recycling at the recycling drop-off point during normal
EcoDepot hours.
Where can I take carpet?
The three EcoDepots all have a recycling drop-off
point. The staff will advise if the carpet is in good enough condition
to be reused (if so it can be left there for no charge) - if not you can
continue through to the general refuse area where a fee will be charged
to dump it.
If you have carpet that is old and may not be accepted at the EcoDepot
for recycling then phone the TerraNova Waste Exchange and ask if they
have of people that may want old carpet as a weed mat
in landscaping.
Where can I take fridges/freezers/ovens/washing machines for disposal?
You can leave them at the recycling drop-off at any EcoDepot free of charge.
Staff will ensure safe and efficient disposal by: · removing gas
·
recycling metal.
Where can I take the waste oil from my car?
The recycling drop-off
points at the three EcoDepots accept waste car oil from domestic sources
only. There is a 20 litre limit. Oil should be taken in a container and
given to staff.
There is no charge for leaving waste oil at the recycling area.
To find out more about used oil and its impact on the environment go to
the ECan used oil web page by clicking on the link below.
For commercial collection, look in the waste minimisation recycling
directory for a list of commercial recyclers.
Recycling
Materials
Who
can use the glass bottle recycling drop-off points at the EcoDepots?
The glass bottle recycling collection points at EcoDepots are intended
for domestic users.
Recycling drop-off points have several labelled bins intended for the
collection of a variety of glass bottles including clear, green and amber
glass. Broken window glass cannot be recycled.
Businesses have the option of using a commercial recycling collection
service or taking sorted glass bottles (free of charge) directly to TerraNova's
site at Parkhouse Road, Sockburn. Prior arrangements with TerraNova
are necessary to get guidelines for sorting, and to give details of
volumes and frequency of loads etc. See contact number below. Contact
Details
How do I dispose of waste oil?
- Domestic
- The EcoDepot recycling drop-off points will take waste oil (car
engine oil only, not cooking oil, or diesel) from residential sources
only, with a maximum limit of 20 litres. Also check if your local
service station will accept it.
Note: Empty oil containers cannot be recycled in the green crate at
the kerbside and need to be disposed of as refuse in a council refuse
bag, or directly at an EcoDepot.
For information about the impacts of used oil on the environment go
to the ECan
used oil web page
- Commercial
- Operators can contact one of the service providers listed in the
Waste Minimisation
and Recycling Directory. Search under used oils and fat or oil.
What can I do with old books that are no longer needed?
Books can be dropped
off at a recycling drop-off (located before the weighbridge) free of charge
at each EcoDepot.
They can also be dropped off at St Christopher’s Church at 244 Avonhead
Road, (Ph: 358-8780)
What should I do with the used silver NOS bombs?
These cartridges
are used for whipping cream and are also known as laughing gas and are
sold at stores around the city. Used Nitrous Oxide (silver bottles) should
be placed in the black refuse bags. They cannot be recycled in the green
recycling crate, even though they have recyclable printed on them. This
is due to health and safety issues, as the canisters explode when they
are processed.
Where can I recycle my old computer?
The
recycling drop-off points at the EcoDepots may accept items for free (inspection
required).
Other commercial recyclers can be found for most office products in the
computer and electrical equipment section of the Waste Minimisation and
Recycling Directory.
Where can I take my used clothing or material?
Clothing and rag
bins are distributed around most communities and clothing left in them
is sold on as fund raisers for charities. Second hand clothing will either
be reused or recycled.
Second hand clothing stores may accept clothes directly from the public.
Some may sell clothes on your behalf.
The EcoDepots will accept clothing, fabric and textiles at the recycling
drop-off points at no charge. Large quantities of fabric leftovers or
off-cuts may find alternative uses via the TerraNova Waste Exchange service
There are commercial recyclers for large volumes of material. For more
information look under rags in the Waste
Minimisation and Recycling Directory.
Where can I take wood/timber products for recycling?
If you have
small/domestic quantities of wood/timber products (e.g. desks, shelving,
chairs, toys etc) that are in good condition then you can take them to
be recycled a the EcoDepot. Note: the staff at the recycling drop-off
points reserve the right to refuse any items they see which have no reuse/resale
value.
Reusable wood off-cuts are also accepted. Please call for more information.
Large or commercial quantities of wood/timber products can be listed on
the TerraNova Waste Exchange (see the website for more information).
Or you can refer to the Waste Minimisation Directory for more options.
Where
do I dispose of used or old batteries?
For small quantities:
·
Used household batteries (including rechargeable ones) cannot be
economically recycled at present. Small quantities of these can be safely
put out in the black Council refuse bags with other household wastes.
·
Vehicle batteries can be taken to an EcoDepot. Staff will accept
car batteries free of charge at the recycling drop-off point. · Mobile
phone batteries and accessories can be disposed of at your local mobile
phone retailer eg Telecom, Nokia, Vodafone, or at Mobilefonerepair.com
Ltd at 81 Moorhouse Ave.
Commercial and Industrial batteries may be able to be recycled
- contact the Christchurch City Council's Hazardous Waste Advisory Service
for advice.
For large quantities: Businesses who wish to dispose of large quantities
of batteries can refer to the battery section in the Waste
Minimisation Directory for a list of commercial battery recyclers.
Home
composting
Have
a beautiful garden and grow great vegetables by composting at home in
a bin or container.
Compost is the natural way to fertilise your garden and recycle your
garden and kitchen waste.
This composting guide will have you creating quality garden compost
in no time at all.
A
guide to garden composting (PDF, 170KB, free PDF reader)]
Christchurch
businesses can visit the waste
minimisation page for ideas to put in place or visit the Target
Zero site to see what assistance the Christchurch City Council can
provide
EcoDepots
Can
I book a site visit to an EcoDepot or Recycling Centre?
Yes.
- The
number of people for a tour range from a minimum of four to maximum
of 30. The ideal group size is 20.
- Tours
are tailored to suit the tour group’s reason for the visit, level
of background knowledge/experience and age. ‘A Waste of a Day Out’
is a day trip designed to give school children the overall picture
of waste.
- Tours
need to be booked in advance.
- There
is no cost to Christchurch residents or school parties.
- For
more information, or to book a school site visit, call the Christchurch
City Council waste line.
- To
enquire about a tour for non-school parties please contact the TerraNova
Education Officer
- There
may be a charge for national and international parties.
Can I dump my refuse bags at an EcoDepot free of
charge?
Yes. Up to three Christchurch City Council official refuse bags
may be dropped off per visit, free of charge, at any of the three EcoDepots.
Bag receptacles are usually close to the kiosk
Can I pay by Eftpos or cheque at the EcoDepot? Payment at EcoDepots may
be by:
- Cash
- Cheque made out to META NZ LTD (with suitable identification)
- EFTPOS
- Charge Account (for businesses only. This facility must be pre-arranged)
Can
I set up a charge account for disposal of waste at the EcoDepots?
Bin hire or commercial businesses can set up a charge account for refuse
disposal.
To set up an account you need to fill out a credit application form. These
can be obtained by contacting Nicki Lancaster at META NZ LTD or asking
at the kiosk at any EcoDepot.
Do the EcoDepots have public weighbridges?
Yes.
The three EcoDepots each have a weighbridge which is available to the
public. There is a charge of $4.00 for using this facility.
How
can I complain about dust or odours from the compost plant at Metro Place?
If any offensive odour or dust is coming from the compost plant, you should
call both META NZ (who operate the EcoDepots) and Environment Canterbury
to let them know. Problems will be addressed as soon as possible after
notification. However, it may take some time for the odour or dust to
disperse.
How can I dispose of old tyres?
Domestic quantities of old rubber
tyres can be taken to the EcoDepot
for a charge - see the bottom of the fees chart. There is a tyre bay
where tyres are kept separate for ease of processing.
Commercial/large quantities of tyres can be disposed of for a charge
of $400.00 per tonne at the EcoDepot. However, this needs to be discussed
and agreed on between the business and the EcoDepots Manager prior to
disposal. Please call in advance to discuss.
We strongly recommend against burning tyres as burning them will create
noxious smoke which will pollute the air.
How do I make a complaint about being wrongly charged, poor customer
service and/or the condition of EcoDepots?
If you are not satisfied
and would like to discuss the following: · condition of the EcoDepot
eg litter, paper, dust, smell · customer service eg feel staff or kiosk
operators are not polite · wrongly charged eg think you were overcharged
for disposing of green waste.
Then please phone META NZ LTD to record your complaint.
How much does it cost to dispose of refuse at an EcoDepot?
See the EcoDepot
fees chart.
All EcoDepots have EFTPOS facilities.
What can I do with the rotten contents of my freezer that has
broken down?
Rotten contents can be taken to any of the three EcoDepots for disposal.
Please make sure that the contents are packaged properly.
What can you tell me about the RetroShed?
The RetroShed is part of the
SuperShed, and is located at 220 Pages Rd, between Cowles Stadium and
the Marae.
The RetroShed is a section which focuses on antiques and collectables.
Like the SuperShed it is open 7 Days. Hours: 9am-5pm
Who is the RMF?
RMF (Recovered Materials Foundation) has been known as
TerraNova since October 2005. This not-for-profit organisation works to
develop local, national and international markets for material collected
from kerbside recycling, and they also operate and offer a range of services,
facilities and operations related to reuse, recycling and resource recovery.
TerraNova works closely with related industry and organisations and with
local councils.
What can I take to the EcoDepots?
Click on the bolded link for
a breakdown of the items that are accepted at the EcoDepots.
The list identifies groupings of refuse and recyclable materials under
separate headings (e.g. Tyres, Hardfill, Green etc). Some household hazardous
wastes can be disposed of for free at a Hazardous
Waste drop off point located at all EcoDepots. For more information
on the disposal of hazardous waste see the website.
Where
are the EcoDepots located, and what are the hours of operation?
The
location can be found here
The hours can be found here
Where do I take hardfill for disposal?
Hardfill
(also known as natural cleanfill) is uncontaminated gravels, clay, rock,
silt, rubble, concrete, soil, bricks, stones, pavers, sand and other inorganic
inert materials.
Household quantities can be taken in small trailer loads to a EcoDepot,
where it can be disposed of separately to general refuse.
Larger loads or commercial quantities of construction and demolition wastes
can be taken to:
Owaka Road Eco Park, 59 Owaka Rd, Wigram. Minimum charge for disposal
is $10.00 Construction
and demolition wastes are also accepted by commercial disposers; see the Waste Minimisation Directory.
Also refer to the Construction
and Demolition Directory. l
Why are fees for disposal of green cheaper?
The fee structure was
designed to:
- encourage
people to separate their garden waste before going to the EcoDepot
- reward
those who sorted their waste with a reduction in charges so that they
will continue to sort their waste.
The fees to take garden matter to the EcoDepot are set at 50% of the general
refuse fee. The income from this level of fees is actually slightly less
than the cost to run the composting facility.
Why do we need the Christchurch City Waste Handling facility Licensing
Bylaw?
The bylaw has been adopted by Council to regulate the operation
of any waste handling facility. It encourages waste sorting and ensures
that waste minimisation levies are collected not only at Council owned
facilities but also at any commercially run facilities that might be set
up in the future.
The Council believes the bylaw will assist the city in minimising waste.
Under the bylaw, any site which prepared waste for disposal to landfill
would need to sort it and, where it is economically and reasonably possible
to do so, divert the sorted material out of the waste stream. Contact
Details
Contact
details
