Prunings aren’t rubbish.
Green waste drops at $126.50 a tonne, about 40% of the general-waste price, because it gets composted, not landfilled. The whole game in this stream is keeping your load pure. One catch: Wellington City Council doesn't collect it, so you choose your own route.
Four ways to move it
What’s accepted, and what isn’t
- Lawn clippings
- Weeds
- Prunings
- Logs under 50cm diameter
- Myrtle-rust green waste (notify staff)
- Flax (harakeke)
- Bamboo
- Cabbage tree / cordyline
- Soil
- Kitchen / food waste
- Plastic and general rubbish
Flax, bamboo and cabbage tree are the classic Wellington surprises, common in gardens, excluded everywhere in the green stream. Soil contaminates compost and belongs in clean fill. Kitchen waste goes to general waste.
Providers & routes, compared
Common mistakes
Putting garden waste in the yellow rubbish bag: council bags allow a maximum of 10% green waste, and fines run up to $400. Green waste has its own stream for a reason: it’s composted, not landfilled.
Paying general-waste prices for a pure green load: green waste drops at $126.50/t versus $327.57/t for general. Sorting is the difference between a cheap run and an expensive one.
Loading flax, bamboo or cabbage tree and expecting it to be accepted: all three are excluded at Southern Landfill and in private green bins. They need the general stream or specialist handling.
Mixing soil into a green load: soil is rejected from the green stream and contaminates compost. Keep it separate: clean fill has its own rate ($95.50/t).
Assuming the council collects garden waste: as of July 2026, Wellington City Council provides no green bin or kerbside garden service. The options are private bins, drop-off, skips or a crew.
Booking a full-service clearance for a trailer-able load: if you have a trailer and the load is pure green, the $11-minimum drop-off beats any crew quote.
FAQ
Does Wellington City Council collect green waste?
No. As of July 2026, WCC provides no green wheelie bin or kerbside garden-waste service. The options are private kerbside bins (Low Cost Bins, Waste Management), a green skip bag, DIY drop-off at Southern Landfill, or a full-service crew. A new bin system has been proposed in the Long-Term Plan, but it is not yet rolled out.
How much does it cost to dump green waste?
Southern Landfill charges $126.50 per tonne with an $11 minimum, roughly 40% of the general-waste rate. Green skip bags run around $299 with disposal included. Private kerbside bins are subscription-priced. The key point: green waste has its own cheaper stream, so never let it ride along as general waste.
What cannot go in the green stream?
Flax, bamboo, cabbage tree, soil and food waste are all excluded, at the landfill and in private green bins. Accepted items are lawn clippings, weeds, prunings and logs under 50cm. Kitchen waste goes to general waste; soil goes to clean fill.
What happens to Wellington green waste?
Council green waste is processed into Capital Compost at the Southern Landfill site; bagged products are sold at the Tip Shop. JunknReuse claims 100% composting for its green collections. Diversion is real here, not just marketing.
Green skip, private bin, or drop-off?
Drop-off if you have a trailer and the load is pure green: it’s the cheapest by far. A private kerbside bin if garden waste is ongoing and you want it handled fortnightly. A green skip bag for a one-off load without a trailer. A crew when the job starts with cutting, not loading.
There is no council green bin, so pick your route: drop-off at $126.50/t if you have a trailer, a Bolt Bins green bag (~$299) for a one-off load without one, a private bin from Low Cost Bins or Waste Management if it's ongoing, or RJ Tree Services / JunknReuse when the job starts with cutting. Keep flax, bamboo, cabbage tree and soil out of the load, and never let green waste ride as general. The rate difference is the whole point.