Most of this costs nothing to drop.
Whiteware, e-waste, paint, batteries, gas bottles: the awkward stuff has dedicated free or near-free routes around Wellington. The most expensive way to dispose of a fridge is to pay someone $50 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 | Phoenix Recycling (Kelson): free, professionally degassed first; or Southern Landfill, general rates + $25 degas | Free |
| Computers, laptops, tablets, phones | Tip Shop (free) · Noel Leeming / TechCollect stores (free ICT) · Phoenix Recycling (free) | Free |
| TVs and monitors | Tip Shop: flat screen $32, CRT $40 · Phoenix: flat screen $39.50, CRT $49.50 | $32–$50 |
| Paint (any brand) | Resene PaintWise at designated ColorShops: Resene free, small fee for other brands | Free / small fee |
| Batteries (household) | 8 free drop-off points: libraries, community centres, Te Aro Zero Waste, Tip Shop. Tape lithium terminals. | Free |
| Car batteries, leaking batteries | Southern Landfill hazardous waste facility (households free) | Free |
| Gas bottles, fire extinguishers | Southern Landfill hazardous waste facility (households free) | Free |
| Oils, chemicals, solvents, pesticides | Southern Landfill hazardous waste facility (households free) | Free |
| CFL / fluorescent lamps | Southern Landfill: 20 per household, wrapped | Free |
| Cans (aluminium/steel) | Kerbside recycling · Trash2Cash pays $1 per 100 cans with pickup | Free / paid |
| Reusable furniture & goods | The Tip Shop accepts donations for resale; Te Aro Zero Waste for repair/reuse | Free |
The drop-off points
Common mistakes
Paying a removal crew to take a fridge: whiteware drops free at Phoenix Recycling (degassed); a per-item pickup charges $30–$65 for what costs nothing to drop.
Putting batteries in any bin: kerbside battery disposal is banned by bylaw, and lithium batteries cause fires in trucks. Eight free drop-off points exist across the city. Use them.
Driving to the landfill for paint: Resene PaintWise takes any brand at designated ColorShops, Resene free. The landfill is the backup, not the first stop.
Assuming all e-waste is free everywhere: computers and phones are free at the Tip Shop, but TVs cost $32–$50 and printers vary by venue. Check the item list before you drive.
Dumping a degassed-needed fridge at Phoenix without degassing: fridges and aircons must be professionally degassed first or Phoenix won’t take them free. Southern Landfill degasses on site for $25.
Landfilling reusable furniture: the Tip Shop resells donated goods. A couch with life left is a donation, not a disposal cost.
FAQ
Where do I take e-waste in Wellington?
Three main free routes: the WCC Tip Shop takes most e-waste free (computers, laptops, phones, small appliances, power tools; TVs cost $32–$40); Noel Leeming and TechCollect stores take free ICT (laptops, tablets, printers, phones, not TVs or whiteware); and Phoenix Recycling in Kelson takes computers and small appliances free. Check each venue’s item list before driving.
Is whiteware really free to dispose of?
Yes, with one condition: Phoenix Recycling in Lower Hutt takes fridges, freezers, washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers and aircons free, but fridges and aircons must be professionally degassed first. Alternatively, Southern Landfill degasses on site for $25 and charges general-waste rates on top. Either beats a per-item pickup fee.
Where do hazardous items go?
Southern Landfill’s hazardous waste facility takes household paint, oils, chemicals, fuels, solvents, pesticides, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, car batteries and CFLs free for households (no commercial waste). For paint specifically, Resene PaintWise ColorShops are the easier first stop: any brand, Resene free.
Can I get paid for recyclables?
Cans, yes: Trash2Cash pays $1 per 100 aluminium cans with pickup in Wellington suburbs. Everything else on the free list is free to drop, not paid. Glass, paper and plastics 1/2/5 go in kerbside recycling on the alternating fortnightly streams.
What does the Tip Shop actually do?
It’s Wellington City Council’s reuse and recovery hub at Southern Landfill: it sells second-hand goods, accepts reusable donations for resale, runs free domestic recycling bins, sells Capital Compost, and handles paid TV disposal. Note: there have been no clothing bins since December 2022; reusable clothing options are limited.
Before paying anyone to take anything, check this stream: whiteware goes free to Phoenix Recycling (degas first) or the landfill for $25 degas; computers and phones are free at the Tip Shop or Noel Leeming; paint goes to PaintWise ColorShops; batteries to one of eight free points; gas bottles, oils and chemicals to the landfill hazardous facility, free for households. The only items that reliably cost money are TVs ($32–$50) and printers, and even those are cheaper than a pickup fee.