About Recycling Plus

This web guide is published by Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch Inc (SOC), with financial support from the Christchurch City Council, to promote household re-use of unwanted goods, and reduction of landfill waste through recovery and recycling.  It contains a selection of community-based activities across Christchurch which offers responsible solutions to excess clutter in our lives.

The site lists most of these organisations here, in one place, for your convenience. We have also published a brochure as a brief summary of the web site (2008), available at City Council service centres or from SOC by mail. 

We have concentrated mainly on community-based and charitable organisations, but there are contacts useful for businesses, here too.

You can also search the new Christchurch Target Sustainability Recycling Directory, from a link here:   http://www.targetsustainability.co.nz/RecyclingDirectory/

Remember, whenever you find yourself asking “I wonder where I can usefully get rid of this item?" consult the listings and links here at RecyclingPlus.

The average Christchurch household produces 764 Kg of 'solid wastes' each year (2007 figure) of which 50% to 60% could have been re-used, composted or recycled. If most of this reaches  Kate Valley landfill (http://www.ccc.govt.nz/waste/landfill/katevalley/ ) the paper and organic matter breaks down only partially there, to create methane gas (an unwanted Climate-warmer) and a toxic liquid called leachate. More at the City Council website. www.ccc.govt.nz/reducerubbish/

Follow the great lead set by Christchurch couple  Matthew and Waveney in 2008, aiming to have a 'Rubbish Free Year' http://www.rubbishfreeyear.co.nz