What are you getting rid of?
“Rubbish removal” is really four different markets with four different price logics. Pick the stream that matches your pile. Each has its own providers, its own prices, and its own Wellington rules.
Household junk & bulky items
A fridge, a couch, a garage that got away on you. A crew comes to you, lifting, loading, hauling and disposal included.
Skip bins & skip bags
You load it yourself over days. The cheapest per-cubic-metre option for big volumes, if you pick the right size and waste type.
Green waste & garden clearance
Prunings, clippings, windfall branches, a section gone wild. Green waste has its own cheaper stream. Don’t pay general-waste prices for it.
Whiteware, e-waste & hazardous
Fridges, TVs, paint, batteries, gas bottles. Most of this drops off free at the right place. Check the free list before you pay anyone.
Not sure which stream?
If it’s mostly household junk with some bulky items, full-service is the simple answer. If it’s a multi-day project you’ll keep filling, a skip is cheaper. Pull the free-stream items (fridge, TV, paint) out first. They cost nothing to drop.
A single fridge or washing machine usually costs less to drop off free than to have collected, and less than a per-item pickup. Check the free list before booking anything.
How the streams compare
| Stream | Who does the work | Price logic | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service | Crew does everything | From $50 | Heavy, bulky, urgent, or no vehicle |
| Skip bins | You load it | $340–$620 | Renovation, multi-day, big volumes |
| Green waste | Either | Weight-based | Garden-only loads, section clears |
| Recycling & hazardous | You drop it | Mostly free | Appliances, electronics, chemicals |
Wellington disposal basics
The landfill is weight-based. Southern Landfill charges by the tonne with minimum charges, and green waste at a separate, lower rate. That is why sorting your load into the right stream is the single biggest cost decision, before any provider comparison.
Council bags are not the catch-all. Wellington City Council rubbish bags must be official 50L yellow bags with a 15kg limit, and cannot contain more than 10% green waste. Hazardous waste, hot ashes and liquids never belong in them.
Free drops exist for the awkward stuff. Whiteware, e-waste, paint, batteries and gas bottles have free or cheap dedicated routes. See the recycling stream before paying a crew to haul any of it.