Most of this costs nothing to drop.
Whiteware, e-waste, paint, batteries, gas bottles, scrap metal: the awkward stuff has dedicated free routes at Christchurch’s three EcoDrop centres and specialist recyclers. The most expensive way to dispose of a fridge is to pay someone $80 to take it. Here’s the item-by-item map.
Where does it go?
Item by item. The right venue depends on the item. Check before you drive.
| Item | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge, freezer, washer, dryer, oven | EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres: free in domestic quantities · Phoenix Recycling (13 Cass St): free | Free |
| Computers, laptops, phones, cables | EcoDrop (free) · Molten Media Trust, Riccarton (free) · Noel Leeming / TechCollect stores (free ICT) | Free |
| TVs and monitors | EcoDrop: working TVs with HDMI only (for reuse) · Phoenix: LCD monitors $20 · Molten: large TVs $20 donation | Restricted / $20 |
| Paint and household chemicals | EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres: household hazardous items free · Resene PaintWise at designated ColorShops | Free |
| Batteries (household) | Free at all three EcoDrops: Phoenix battery recycling bins are installed at the Resource Recovery Centres | Free |
| Gas bottles, fire extinguishers | EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres (households free) | Free |
| Waste oils (engine and cooking) | EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres (free) | Free |
| Tyres | Up to 5 per customer free at EcoDrop, clean and off rims (Tyrewise) · rims $8.90 each | Free (limits) |
| Scrap metal | EcoDrop (free) · Sims Metal, 48 Wickham St Bromley: pays you for scrap | Free / paid |
| Reusable furniture & goods | EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres: free, no stains or rips · commercial volumes by arrangement | Free |
| Asbestos | Wrapped, Metro Place EcoDrop only, weekdays only | $732.49/t |
The drop-off points
Common mistakes
Paying a removal crew $65-$115 to take a fridge: whiteware drops free at all three EcoDrops and at Phoenix Recycling. A per-item pickup charges real money for what costs nothing to drop.
Putting batteries in any kerbside bin: lithium batteries cause fires in trucks and facilities. Free battery bins (run by Phoenix) sit at all three EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres. Use them.
Paying to dump a working TV: EcoDrop takes working televisions with an HDMI port free, as reuse. Non-working TVs and monitors are the ones that cost money elsewhere.
Landfilling scrap metal: Sims Metal in Bromley pays for it, and EcoDrop takes it free. Metal is the one pile in the garage with cash value.
Assuming all e-waste is free everywhere: computers and phones are free at EcoDrop and Molten, but Phoenix charges $20 for LCD monitors and $29.95-$49.95 for printers. Check the item list before you drive.
Dumping asbestos anywhere but the right place: it must be wrapped, goes to Metro Place EcoDrop only, on weekdays only, at $732.49/t. Never in a skip, never in a kerbside bin.
FAQ
Where do I take e-waste in Christchurch?
Three main free routes: the EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres take e-waste free in household quantities (computers, laptops, phones, cables, kitchen appliances; TVs only if working with HDMI); Molten Media Trust in Riccarton takes anything containing metal free except large TVs and fridges ($20 donation); and selected Noel Leeming stores take free ICT through TechCollect. Phoenix Recycling in Sydenham charges small fees for monitors and printers but takes phones free.
Is whiteware really free to dispose of?
Yes. EcoDrop takes fridges, freezers and whiteware free in domestic quantities, and Phoenix Recycling at 13 Cass St takes fridges, freezers, ovens, dishwashers, washers and dryers free. Molten Media takes whiteware free except fridges/freezers ($20 donation). Any of these beats a $65-$115 per-item pickup fee.
Where do hazardous items go?
EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres accept household hazardous items free in domestic quantities: paint, chemicals, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, waste oils (engine and cooking) and batteries. For paint, Resene PaintWise ColorShops are the easier first stop. Hazardous waste never belongs in a kerbside bin.
Can I get paid for recyclables in Christchurch?
Scrap metal, yes: Sims Metal in Bromley buys it and offers pickup or drop-off. Everything else on the free list is free to drop, not paid. Kerbside recycling (yellow bin, fortnightly) covers paper, cardboard, cans, glass and plastics 1, 2 and 5.
What about tyres and asbestos?
Tyres: up to five per customer free at EcoDrop, clean and off rims, under the Tyrewise scheme; rims cost $8.90 each. Asbestos: wrapped, Metro Place EcoDrop only, weekdays only, at $732.49/t. Both have hard rules; check before you load the trailer.
Before paying anyone to take anything, check this stream: whiteware goes free to any EcoDrop or Phoenix Recycling; computers and phones are free at EcoDrop, Molten Media or Noel Leeming; paint goes to PaintWise or the EcoDrop hazardous area; batteries, gas bottles and oils are free at EcoDrop; scrap metal pays at Sims in Bromley. The items that reliably cost money are non-working TVs, monitors, printers and asbestos, and even those are cheaper to drop than to have collected.