Is it the time to tackle that monstrous heap of rubbish that’s been living in your backyard ? Good on ya! Maybe it’s the leftovers from that DIY reno project that seemed like a good idea at the time, and not anymore ? or maybe you property looks like a private jungle.
Either way, you’ve made the smart move to hire a skip bin and get rid of all that rubbish. It’s a great feeling, isn’t it? Knowing that soon, your space will be as clear as a Kiwi summer sky, free from the eyesore of all that unwanted stuff.
But just as you’re about to toss that ancient, spider-infested lawnmower into the skip, a thought crosses your mind—what actually happens to all this waste once it’s picked up?
Here’s the kicker: the journey of your waste is more complex than it seems. It doesn’t just disappear into a magical void. Nah mate.
Us lot at Purpose Fill reckon recycling’s the way to go. If you can’t cut down on your stuff or use it again, chucking it in the recycling bin is bloody important before sending your rubbish to the tip. Bit of a shame some Kiwis forget about that step. We were getting pretty worried about all the junk skip bin companies were carting off to the dump. We reckoned there had to be a better way to look after our choice country, and turns out there is!
Loading the skip bin
Filling a skip bin might seem straightforward, but there are a few tips to maximize space and efficiency. Start by placing the larger, bulkier items at the bottom. This includes items like broken furniture, old appliances, and large garden waste. As you layer up, fill the gaps with smaller items like old books, clothes, and smaller pieces of debris. This method not only helps in maximizing space but also stabilizes the load for transport.
When it comes to what goes into the bin its not exactly “all-you-can-chuck” buffet either. We’ve got a list of goodies we’re happy to take off your hands, and trust us, it’s longer than the queue at the fish and chip shop on a Friday night. We’re talking about your garden waste (yes, even that hedge you butchered), your building materials (from that DIY project you swore would only take a weekend), and even that old washing machine that’s been doubling as modern art in your garage.
but the kitchen sink in there (actually, we’ll take the kitchen sink too), there are some things we just can’t handle. It’s not that we’re fussy, it’s just that some stuff is about as welcome in our skips as a vegetarian at a hangi. We’re talking hazardous waste like asbestos, paint, and chemicals. Chucking these in is like yeah, nah.
Collection by Purpose Fill
Once your bin is full and your yard is looking pristine Now, when a team from Purpose Fill arrives to collect your skip bin. Collection process is efficient and timely, ensuring minimal disruption to your schedule and yet , It’s not just a quick trip to the tip like some blokes might reckon.
Nah, we take it to our plant where our choice team sorts through the lot. We’re not just yapping about recycling; we’re walking the talk,we’ve got a choice setup that’s all about giving your junk a fair go at a second life.
Once we’ve collected your skip, our trucks head straight to our flash recycling plant in Frankton, Hamilton We set this beauty up back in 2018, and it’s been cranking ever since.
As soon as we roll in, our team of hard workers get stuck in, sorting through the lot like they’re panning for gold.
Purpose Fill’s commitment to the environment
Purpose Fill is renowned for its commitment to environmentally friendly practices and processes designed to minimize carbon emissions, aligning with broader environmental goals.
The sorting process starts manually. Workers pick out large, obvious recyclables like metals, cardboard, and plastics.
First up, the sorting process starts manually. Workers pick out large, obvious recyclables, we tackle the obvious recyclables ( the big stuff ).
Old washing machines and fridges? No worries! We take them all, thats because we believe in salvaging any metal bits we can is important. The white goods might be munted, but their guts are often sweet as for recycling. We’re talking copper wiring, aluminum, steel , you name it, we’ll save it.
This manual sorting is critical as it ensures that materials that can be recycled are identified and separated early on.
Next, we move on to the furniture. Those old sad looking sofas and mattresses that’ve seen better days? We don’t just chuck ’em in the skip. Nah.
Are you asking yourself what items in your skip bin can be recycled ?
Building Bits and Bobs:
Bricks, tiles, cement, stones, rubble, glass, timber – basically, if it once held up your house or made it look pretty, we can probably recycle it.
Scrap Metal:
Metal cutoffs, cans, pipes, copper cabling, steel – if it’s metal and not attached to your car, chuck it in! We’ll make sure it gets a new life, maybe as a fancy sculpture in some hipster’s backyard.
Glass:
Bottles, jars, even that mirror you broke (seven years bad luck, mate!). We’ll grind it up and use it for something useful, like sand for beach volleyball courts.
Green Waste:
Tree branches, flowers, lawn clippings, weeds – basically anything that used to be alive in your garden. We’ll turn it into compost faster than you can say “Yeah, nah, she’ll be right!”
Dirt and Soil:
Sand, soil, clay – as long as it’s not contaminated with your home brew experiments, we’ll take it!
E-Waste:
TVs, computers, smartphones – all those gadgets you bought thinking they’d change your life. We’ll recycle them before the next model comes out and makes them obsolete again.
Remember, sorting your waste is crucial. Don’t just chuck everything in willy-nilly like you’re making a hangover breakfast. Keep it sorted, and we’ll make sure as much as possible gets recycled.
Old wood gets mulched up for garden use or turned into chipboard. Metal, steel – they’re off to the scrap yard to be get into a proper recycling facility and reborn as something new.
Plastics are a bit trickier, but we’re not scared of a challenge. We sort ’em by type – PET bottles, HDPE milk jugs, PVC pipes, and whatnot. All gets sent off to different recycling plants where they’ll be melted down and turned into new products. It’s pretty good seeing an old bit of plastic get a new lease on life.
We’re pretty stoked about our metal recycling efforts too as mentioned .
Aluminium cans, rods , steel beams, old bike frames, bits of corrugated iron roofing – it all gets sorted and sent off to the right places.
Aluminium’s a real winner ’cause it can be recycled over and over without losing quality. Sweet as!
Now, don’t get us started on electronics!
Green waste gets its own special treatment. All those hedge clippings, tree branches, and lawn mowing. They head off to become compost or mulch. It’s mean seeing your garden waste come full circle and help grow new plants.
What items in your skip bin can not be recycled ?
As motioned before there is the “No-No List” for your skip bin – or as we like to call it, “The Bin of Broken Dreams: What Not to Chuck In!”
First up, we’ve got Hazardous Waste. Now, we know you’re not trying to recreate a science experiment gone wrong, but let’s keep the toxic stuff out of our skips, eh?
We’re talking about asbestos (that’s a hard no, mate), paint (unless you’re Picasso, keep it out), batteries (they’re not the Energizer Bunny, they don’t keep going in our bins), chemicals (save those for your secret underground lair), poisons (we’re not running a murder mystery here), and pesticides (bugs have rights too, you know).
If you do chuck these in, please consider our workers who don’t fancy playing “Guess the Chemical” when they’re collecting your rubbish. For these special treats please ask us and we will plan it to be sorted in a different manner and help your hazardous waste problem to disappear.
Now, onto food waste. We know your Nana’s fruitcake might qualify as a biological weapon, but please, no food scraps in the skip. Unless you’re trying to attract every possum, rat, and seagull in a 5-mile radius for a rubbish bin rave, keep the kai out. Most transfer stations aren’t keen on turning into a all-you-can-eat buffet for vermin.
Instead, chuck your food scraps in your regular bin, or better yet, start a compost heap. It’s like a day spa for your banana peels and apple cores – they go in all gross and come out as beautiful, rich soil. Your garden will thank you, and you’ll feel like Mother Nature’s favorite child.
Remember, folks – our skips are for rubbish, not for recreating scenes from “Breaking Bad” or hosting an all-night possum disco. Keep it clean, keep it safe, and keep it funny – just like us!
Of course, there’s always gonna be some stuff we can’t recycle. and it got into the skip bin But even then, we don’t just give up. We’re always on the hunt for new ways to reuse or repurpose materials. And anything that absolutely has to go to the landfill? We make sure it’s the bare minimum.
Non-recyclable waste
Unfortunately, not all waste can be recycled. Items that can’t be repurposed end up in landfills. At Purpose Fill, we make sure this process is handled with care. Our goal is to minimize non-recyclable waste as much as possible. We’re always on the lookout for new ways to improve our processes and cut down on what ends up in landfills.
Some examples of non-recyclable waste include certain types of plastics and contaminated materials. For instance, plastic bags and Styrofoam often can’t be recycled through regular facilities due to contamination and the complexity of processing them. These items, unfortunately, must be disposed of in landfills.
And all other prohibited or dangerous items (such as human waste, asbestos, paint, batteries, oils, flammable material, chemicals, poison, pesticides, and contaminated soil) need a specific treatment procedures
It’s not just about ticking boxes – we reckon it’s our job to look after our beautiful country. So even when we can’t recycle, we’re still doing our best to do right by Aotearoa.
What happens to the rest of the waste?
“What about the stuff that can’t be recycled?
Does it just disappear into thin air like my motivation to go for a run?” Well, not quite,.
The waste that can’t be recycled or repurposed usually ends up in landfills .
In our case here in the Waikato and Auckland areas it goes to:
- Redvale Landfill & Energy Park: Located in Albany, Auckland, this landfill is a modern engineered facility that captures over 90% of the gas produced from waste and converts it into electricity.
- Whitford Landfill: Also located in Auckland, this site is another key landfill in the region.
- Hampton Downs Landfill: Situated in the Waikato Region, this landfill has been operational since 2005.
But don’t worry, these aren’t just giant holes in the ground where we chuck everything willy-nilly. Nah, modern landfills are like five-star hotels for rubbish – they’re engineered to minimize environmental impact.
First off, the ground is prepped with layers of clay and special plastic liners. This is to stop any nasty liquids from seeping into the groundwater. It’s like a giant nappy for your rubbish, keeping all the yucky stuff contained.
As the waste piles up, it’s covered with soil to keep pests away and reduce smells. It’s not exactly a pleasant job, but someone’s gotta do it. Think of it as tucking your rubbish in for a very, very long nap.
But here’s where it gets interesting. As the waste breaks down, it produces methane gas. Now, instead of letting this greenhouse gas escape into the atmosphere and contribute to climate change, many landfills capture it. Some even use it to generate electricity! That’s right, your old banana peels could be powering someone’s telly.
Of course, landfills aren’t a perfect solution. They take up space, and some materials can take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down. That’s why it’s so important to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as we can.
Also in the landfills in New Zealand are designed to minimize environmental impact by preventing leaching into water bodies and capturing greenhouse gases. This is a significant improvement over the older, uncontrolled dumps. Overall, waste management in the North Island of New Zealand involves a combination of modern landfills, transfer stations, and regulatory measures aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of waste disposal.
We are looking for ways to cut down on landfill waste. Some councils are experimenting with food waste collection, turning your leftover into compost. Others are working on ways to recycle more types of plastics and other materials.
But at the end of the day, the best way to deal with waste is to not create it in the first place. It’s like your grandma always said, “Waste not, want not.” (She was probably talking about finishing your veggies, but the principle still applies.)
So next time you’re about to chuck something in the bin, have a think. Could it be recycled? Reused? Composted? Or better yet, do you really need to buy it in the first place?
And when you do need to get rid of a big load of rubbish, remember the legends at Purpose Fill. These Waikato warriors of waste removal services , will sort you out with a skip bin faster than you can say “Yeah, nah.” . We are like the All Blacks ( that’s is what we are refer to as well , Oh you are the black skips aren’t you ) of rubbish removal – top-rated, locally operated, and they’ll tackle your waste problems head-on. Plus, they’ll give you the best price and service this side of the Waikato. Cheers!
