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, locked position.

Food scraps bin

The new food scraps service will result in less waste going to landfill. When food scraps break down in landfill they give off greenhouse gases like methane, which are harmful for the environment. Getting food scraps out of landfill and collected to make compost is a much better use of the resource and gets the goodness back into the soil, where it belongs.

Food scraps caddy

We also have food scraps benchtop caddies (7 litres) available to purchase for $11.00. You can order these from us online. (Please note once ordered you will be contacted and invoiced.)

Bins - replacements and extras

Swap Your Damaged Original Para Kai Bin for Free

If your original bin (the dark green, rectangular bin with a matching lid issued in September 2023) is broken or damaged, bring it to one of our service centres in Waihī, Paeroa or Ngātea for a free replacement. Please give it a rinse before you bring it along.

Damaged bins were highlighted in our food scraps bin survey. View our Food Scraps Bin Survey Insights

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 in doubt leave it out. Put it in your rubbish bin.

X fruit stickers
X compostable packaging
X tea bags and takeaway paper coffee cups
X plastic or compostable bags
X bin liners, cling film and food wrapping
X waxed paper and aluminium foil
X textile
X large bones or hard shells (e.g. mussel or oyster shells)
X animal waste and pet sand
X general rubbish
X degradable or biodegradable bags
X grass clippings and green waste
X paper towels and tissues
X liquids
X recyclable rigid plastics graded 1, 2 and 5
X cardboard

Why do we need a food scraps bin?

When we started audits in 2021, they showed that 47 percent of waste going to landfill was food scraps.

Food scraps in landfill, as they break down, give off green-house gases like methane, which is not great for the environment. Getting food scraps out of landfill and collected to make compost is a much better use of the resource and gets the goodness back into the soil, where it belongs.

How is it paid for?

The new food scrap bins were provided by the Ministry for the Environment | Manatū Mō Te Taiao.

The collection of your food scraps will be paid for through a solid waste targeted rate. This makes it easier for all households to participate in waste reduction, resulting in less household waste going to landfill.

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.

Avoiding food waste in the first place

You can avoid or reduce food waste by planning your meals, shopping wisely, being creative with leftovers, and storing food correctly.

Visit the Love Food Hate Waste website for useful ideas.