Gisborne Rubbish & Recycling

Bin collection days for every Gisborne suburb, what goes in each bin, and where to drop off everything else.

Gisborne's kerbside service is a council recycling crate and your own rubbish bag with council stickers, both collected every week on the same day. Here is how to find your collection day, what goes in each bin, and where to take everything else.

Have your bins out by 7am on collection day. A few streets differ from the rest of their suburb, so check your exact address with the council’s lookup.

Collection dayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday

Tap your suburb to see its days.

Which bin does it go in?

Recycling crateRecycling · every week

Yes

  • Plastic bottles and containers marked 1, 2 and 5
  • Clean glass bottles and jars, lids off
  • Newspapers, magazines and clean paper
  • Flattened cardboard
  • Rinsed aluminium and tin cans

No

  • Lids of any kind (they go in rubbish)
  • Plastics 3, 4, 6, 7 or unmarked
  • Soft plastics, plastic bags and bubble wrap
  • Polystyrene trays and foam packaging
  • Cartons and takeaway cups
  • Broken glass, mirrors, Pyrex and crockery
  • Food scraps, batteries and chemicals
  • Clothing and shoes

Don't fill it above the top edge.

Stickered rubbish bagRubbish · every week

Yes

  • Household rubbish in a tied bag
  • Your own plastic or paper bag, or a bag inside a bin

No

  • Bags without stickers
  • Bags over 20kg

Use one sticker per 5kg, up to 4 stickers for a 20kg bag.

Public holidays

Rubbish and recycling are still collected on public holidays that fall on a weekday.

Drop-off points

City Recycling and Resource Recovery Centre

75 Innes Street, Gisborne

Recycling drop-off open 24/7. Transfer station Mon to Fri 7.30am to 4.30pm, weekends and public holidays 9.30am to 3.30pm. Closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday.

Plastics 1, 2 and 5Rubbish (charged)Green waste, no flax (charged)Hardfill and cleanfill (charged)EFTPOS onlyDirections

Tairāwhiti Environment Centre

386 Palmerston Road, Gisborne

Free e-wasteFree household batteriesSoft plasticsDirections

Te Karaka Transfer Station

229 Kanakanaia Road, Te Karaka

Wed and Fri 12pm to 2pm, weekends 1pm to 3pm. Closed 24 to 26 December and 1 to 2 January.

Stickered rubbishNo cashDirections

Whatatutu Transfer Station

146 Tip Road, Whatatutu

Tue and Thu 12pm to 2pm, weekends 10am to 12pm. Closed 24 to 26 December and 1 to 2 January.

Stickered rubbishNo cashDirections

Tolaga Bay Transfer Station

146 Waiapu Road, Tolaga Bay

Tue 7am to 9am, Thu 11am to 1pm, weekends 2pm to 4pm. Extra Mon, Wed and Fri 8am to 10am from 15 Dec to 16 Jan. Closed 25 to 26 December and 1 to 2 January.

Stickered rubbishNo cashDirections

Tokomaru Bay Transfer Station

31 Paikea Road, Tokomaru Bay

Wed, Fri and Sat 11am to 1pm, Sun 2pm to 4pm. Extra Mon, Tue and Thu 8am to 10am from 15 Dec to 16 Jan. Closed 25 to 26 December and 1 to 2 January.

Stickered rubbish bagsRecyclingGreen wasteNo trailers or large loadsDirections
More rural transfer stations (2)
  • Matawai Transfer Station Stickered rubbish, No cashTue and Wed 12pm to 2pm, weekends 2pm to 4pm. Closed 25 to 26 December and 1 to 2 January.
  • Te Puia Springs Transfer Station Stickered rubbish, No cashMon, Wed and Sat 10am to 12pm, Sun 1pm to 3pm. Extra Tue, Thu and Fri 8am to 10am from 15 Dec to 16 Jan. Closed 25 to 26 December and 1 to 2 January.

Every suburb’s collection day

SuburbCollection day
AwapuniWednesday or Friday (depends on street)
ElginWednesday
GisborneWednesday
Inner KaitiTuesday
KaitiMonday or Tuesday (depends on street)
Lytton WestThursday
MākarakaFriday
MakauriFriday
MakororiMonday
MangapapaThursday
ManutūkēFriday
MatawheroFriday
MātokitokiThursday
MuriwaiFriday
OkitūMonday
OrmondFriday
Outer KaitiMonday or Tuesday (depends on street)
PātūtahiFriday
RiverdaleThursday
RuatoriaWednesday
TamarauMonday
Te HāparaWednesday
WaerengaahikaFriday
WaihīrereFriday
WainuiMonday
WaipaoaFriday
WaituhiFriday
WhataupokoTuesday

Good to know

Which day is my collection?

Monday: Outer Kaiti, Wainui and Makorori. Tuesday: Inner Kaiti and Whataupoko. Wednesday: City Centre, Te Hapara and Ruatoria. Thursday: Mangapapa and Lytton West. Friday: Poverty Bay Flats. Days are set by street, so check the map.

Where do I get rubbish stickers?

Stickers are sold at supermarkets, dairies, service stations and council service centres. Ratepayers on the collection route get 13 stickers with their rates invoices.

Can I have more than one crate?

Crates are $20 from council customer service, up to two per property. If you use two, put all your glass in one. Extra flattened cardboard can be bundled under the crate, up to 1m by 1m.

My rubbish wasn't collected. What now?

Report it to council customer service on 0800 653 800 or 06 867 2049 (24 hours), or through the Antenno app.

Bin rules and drop-off points from the Gisborne District Council website. Collection zones: Gisborne District Council open data, CC BY 4.0. Checked 22 October 2026.