Para Kai | Food Scraps
Your para kai | food scraps bin will be collected weekly. Check the collection day for your area.
Place bin at kerbside with handle in the upright and locked by 7:30am on collection day with the bin logo facing the road. Leave about 60cm between bins so the truck can pick them up. Please leave your bin out until sundown to allow time for collection.
To help ensure your bins are collected safely and efficiently, follow our collection guidelines.
What can go in the para kai | food scraps bin?
✓ Meat, fish, small bones and cooled fat
✓ Egg shells and soft shells e.g. prawn shells
✓ Bread, pastries, cakes and biscuits
✓ Coffee grounds and tea leaves (not tea bags)
✓ Fruit and vegetable stalks and peels
✓ Rice, grains, cereals and noodles
✓ Leftovers and plate scrapings, spoiled food and dairy products
What cannot go in this bin?
If unsure, put it in your rubbish bin.
❌ fruit stickers
❌ compostable packaging
❌ tea bags and takeaway paper coffee cups
❌ plastic or compostable bags
❌ bin liners, cling film and food wrapping
❌ waxed paper and aluminium foil
❌ textile
❌ large bones or hard shells (e.g. mussel or oyster shells)
❌ animal waste and pet sand
❌ general rubbish
❌ degradable or biodegradable bags
❌ grass clippings and green waste
❌ paper towels and tissues
❌ liquids
❌ recyclable rigid plastics graded 1, 2 and 5
❌ cardboard
Food scraps caddy
We also have food scraps benchtop caddies (7 litres) available to purchase for $11.00.
Why a food scraps bin?
When food breaks down in landfill, it releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.
Using the food scraps bin keeps food waste out of landfill and turns it into compost.
What happens to your food scraps
Your food scraps will go to Living Earth at Tirohia Energy Park, just outside Paeroa, where it will be processed for composting.
How is it paid for?
Collection of your food scraps will be paid for through a solid waste targeted rate, so households can take part
