Agreed colours for bins, bilingual signage, event signage and recycling bin suppliers

1. Standardised colours for mobile recycling, rubbish and organic materials bins, crates and internal office bins

In October 2015 WasteMINZ, the Glass Packaging Forum and councils around New Zealand agreed on a standardised set of colours for mobile recycling, rubbish and organic materials bins, crates and internal office bins. In 2016 the New Zealand Recycling Symbols (formerly known as the RONZ symbols) were updated to match the colours for mobile recycling and rubbish bins. Companies wishing to implement nationwide recycling schemes are strongly encouraged to use these colours both for their bins and also on their signage. This will ensure that the colours used are consistent with both public place recycling and household recycling.


The agreed standardised colours for mobile recycling and rubbish bins, crates and internal office bins can be found here.

2. Bilingual recycling signage (RONZ)
There are currently 52 different recycling symbols provided in Te Reo Māori and English with translations by He Kupenga Hao i Te Reo Māori with advice from Para Kore.  The PDFs are editable so you are able to replace a kupu (word) if required, in consultation with your local iwi, in recognition of dialectical differences. Please download the ZIP folder here.
2.1 Background and agreed words

Para Kore and WasteMINZ conducted a nationwide consultation in September 2017 to determine the most suitable translations into te reo Māori for public place recycling and rubbish signage. Speakers of te reo Māori from local iwi, community groups, council staff, universities and government departments were invited to take part in the consultation. Please find below the agreed upon translations. In some cases appropriate alternatives are listed. The majority of these alternatives have a slight variation in meaning rather than being a regional or tribal dialect. E.g. in English the words compost, organic and food scraps have all been used in the past to indicate a bin which food waste goes into however, the agreed upon word in English is now food scraps. This is the case, for example, with the translations for blocks and rubble, poro raima, kongakonga and poraka raima, turakanga.


Where regional variations in usage are possible this has been noted and organisations intending to create signage using those words are encouraged to consult more widely with their local iwi to determine which word would be most suitable. E.g. in English both rubbish and garbage have the same meaning but one is British English and the other American. For example regional variations for the word clothes include but aren't limited to kākahu, pūeru, pūweru, weru, weweru, kaka. 


English Term

Agreed Translations

Appropriate Alternatives

Appliances

Pūrere Kāinga

Utauta Kāinga

Bags & Wrap

Pēke, Tākai

 

Blocks & Rubble

Poro Raima, Kongakonga

Poraka Raima, Turakanga

Bottles & Jars

Pātara, Ipu Karaehe

 

Brown

Parauri

 

Cans

Kēne

 

Cardboard

Kāri Mārō

 

Cartridges

Kariri Waituhi

 

Clear

Kōataata

 

Clothes & Rags

Pūeru, Ruha

Kākahu

Karukaru

(note regional variations are possible consult locally)

Coffee Grounds

Whaipara Kawhe

Kawhe Ngakungaku 

Orooronga Kawhe

Nakunga Kawhe

Concrete

Raima

 

Containers

Ipu

 

Drink

Inu

 

Electronics

Para Tāhiko

Para Hiko

Fabric

Papanga

 

Fonterra Milk Bottles

Pātara Miraka nā Fonterra

 

Food

Kai

 

Food & Drink

Kai, Inu

 

Food & Garden

Kai, Māra

Mahinga Kai 

(note regional variations are possible - consult locally)

Food Scraps

Para Kai

 

Food Scraps & Compostable Packaging

Para Kai, Tākai Pōpopo

 

Furniture

Taputapu whare

 

Garden Cuttings

 

Tapahanga Māra

 

Tapahitanga Māra

Glass

 

Karaehe

 

Karāhe

Kōata

Green

Kākāriki

 

Hazardous

Para Mōrearea

 

Household Batteries

Pūhiko Kāinga

 

Landfill

Ruapara

 

Light Bulbs

Pūrama

 

Liners

Ārai

 

Meat Scraps

Para Mīti

Para Kikokiko

Metal

Konganuku

Mētara

Metal Beams

Paepae Konganuku

 

Metal Scrap

Kuha Konganuku

Toenga Mētara

Kongakonga Mētara

Nappies

Kope

 

Oil

Hinu

 

Paper

Pepa

 

Plastic

Kirihou

 

Plasterboard

Papa Ukutea

 

Polystyrene

Kirihou Kōmāmā

 

Recycling

Hangarua

Hakarua is Ngāi Tahu dialect for Hangarua.

Reuse

Whakamahia Anō

Rubbish

Para

Rāpihi

Shopping Bags

Pēke Hokohoko

 

Soft Plastic

Kirihou Ngohengohe

 

Soil

Oneone

 

Strapping

Tarapu ( loan word)

Here

Towels & Napkins

Tāora, Parehūhare

Tāora, Napikena

Treated Timber

Rākau Tāoke

Rākau Tāroki

Tyres

Taea

Wīra

Untreated Timber

Rākau Noa

 

Window

Matapihi

 

Wood

Rākau

 

3. Zero waste events guidance

Effective signage helps to minimise contamination in recycling bins and decreases missed capture (recyclables ending up in the rubbish bin). A guidance document “Zero Waste events guidance” has been created showing examples of effective signage for events and outlining considerations to consider when developing signage. This factsheet can be downloaded here.

4. New Zealand suppliers of indoor and outdoor recycling bins and accessories

A list providing details of New Zealand suppliers of indoor and outdoor recycling bins and accessories can be found here. The document is focused on the needs of commercial operations but could be applicable to households and schools. Inclusion in this document does not confer any preference or recommendation, suppliers are listed alphabetically and was last updated in 2024. Please contact Leeana Tamati on leeana@wasteminz.org.nz if you know of any changes that need to be made to this list.