What to do with damaged lithium-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are a part of everyday life – but if damaged, they can become a serious fire risk.
Whether you're dealing with small household...
Electronic and hazardous waste recycling and safe disposal
Some waste causes greater environmental harm if sent to landfill, and should be recycled if possible, or disposed of carefully. We're doing our best to appropriately dispose of or recycle these waste materials, to reduce the potential environmental harm they may cause.
You can help by disposing of them as outlined below.
Our e-waste service at Ōtaki is suspended until further notice due to repeated vandalism and theft. You can drop your e-waste at the Otaihanga e-waste facility instead. The Ōtaki transfer station is still operating.
Batteries
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: No charge
Car batteries - other options
Check directly with location for recycling fee, if applicable
Where: E-waste drop-off – Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: Most items are free to drop-off at Otaihanga Transfer Station, however there are fees for specific items – see rubbish disposal charges.
Electronic devices with integrated batteries – other options
Note: Product acceptance criteria apply
Where:
Stihl Shop battery recycling - Stihl-branded only
Cost: Varies, check with locations directly
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: No charge
Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires during transport and in landfill if disposed of with your general waste – if damaged see below.
Where: Hazardous Waste Storage Facility, Southern Landfill, Wellington City
Cost: Free for up to 20kg or 20L of hazardous waste
- See more information on disposing of domestic hazardous waste at Southern Landfill.
- See what to do with damaged lithium-ion batteries.
Electronic waste (e-waste)
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
Where: Otaihanga Zero Waste
Cost: Contact OZW directly for the fee
Flat panel computer screens
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station e-waste container, or Otaihanga Zero Waste
Cost: No charge
CRT computer monitors
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
Includes: mobile phones, cordless phones, gaming consoles, projectors, laptops/Chromebooks/tablets, computers, keyboards, mice, cameras, small kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, water blasters, chargers, adapters, electrical wire, cables and cords, power tools, heat pumps, dehumidifiers, heaters, fans, audio systems, hair-styling appliances, VCR and DVD players, digital clocks and radios, servers, modems and routers, telecommunications infrastructure, PC parts (circuit boards/motherboards/RAM/hard drives/PS)
Where: Drop off in the e-waste container at Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: No charge
Note: For bulk quantities or commercial e-waste collection contracts, a range of options exist across the wider Wellington region which you can access via web search.
Fire extinguishers
Contact the retailer or distributor that you purchased the fire extinguisher from to ask about return to them for safe recovery/recycling. This aligns with current best practice related to extended producer/distributor responsibility for the goods they sell. Ask your retailer if they will accept old fire extinguishers for safe disposal when a replacement is purchased at the same time.
Where: Porirua City Council’s Spicer Landfill – Cost: $3.50 each (June 2025)
Where: Wellington City Council Southern Landfill – Cost: Free for up to 20kg of domestic hazardous goods, including fire extinguishers
Lighting
Where: Drop off at Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: No charge
Paint
- Never pour unwanted paint down household or stormwater drains.
- Water-based paints: Treat with Waste Paint Hardener. Dispose of hardened mass in refuse. Pails can be recycled. Do not rinse pails into stormwater drains.
- Solvent-based paints: Pour excess on absorbent material (e.g. kitty litter or sawdust), allow to dry, then dispose in rubbish. Empty, dry cans can go in household recycling bins (leave lid off).
Ask your retailer if you can return paint and containers. Often free for same-brand returns; otherwise $0.25 per litre. Options include:
Scrap metal
Ōtaki Transfer Station
Cost: No charge
Cost: Gate fees apply
Cost: No charge
Vehicle-related waste
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
Note: From September 2024, registered Tyrewise partners will accept up to five tyres for free when replacing tyres.
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
Whiteware and appliances
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
This charge covers degassing and recycling.
Where: Otaihanga Zero Waste
Cost: Contact OZW directly for the fee
See Miscellaneous e-waste under Electronic waste (e-waste)
Where: Otaihanga Transfer Station
Cost: See Rubbish disposal charges for the fee
Wood
A wood recycling centre run by Zero Waste Ōtaki (1 Riverbank Road) is open for drop off and sales at 1 Riverbank Road next to the Ōtaki Resource Recovery Centre:
Hours:
Wednesdays 9.30–10.30am
Last Sunday of every month 9.30am–12pm
Activities: Drop-off and purchase of wood suitable for house/garden projects, upcycling or firewood.
No MDF or particle board accepted.
Bulk drop-offs and other times: By arrangement – email Zero Waste Ōtaki