Tip Shop and Recycle Centre

The Tip Shop accepts donated items that people no longer want that are still in usable condition and gives them a second life.

Te Aro Zero Waste

Drop off goods to be reused, recycled or repaired at the new resource recovery centre on Forresters Lane.

Find out about Te Aro Zero Waste on the Sustainability Trust website.

The inside of the Tip Shop showing stacks of books, toys and items hanging from the ceiling.

Our mission

Wellington City Council is committed to reducing, reusing and recycling waste. The Tip Shop and Recycle Centre is just one of the ways we divert waste from the landfill. Before you throw out that old toaster or that set of golf clubs gathering cobwebs in the garden shed, consider giving it a second life at the Tip Shop.

Te Aro Zero Waste

If you’re unable to get to the Southern Landfill, you can also visit Te Aro Zero Waste on Forresters Lane (off Tory Street), which offers many of the same services as the Tip Shop.

Location and hours

View Tip Shop and Recycle Centre location and hours

What we sell

As well as being a place to drop off items, the shop is a great place to pick up a range of bargains. The Tip Shop sells:

  • furniture and kitchen items
  • bric-a-brac
  • building and gardening materials
  • tools
  • toys
  • books
  • clothes
  • bike parts
  • electronics.
The drop off location outside the tip shop at the Southern Landfill

Dropping off items

Donations

The Tip Shop is a great way to make sure your items have a second life. The list above should give you an idea of what items we accept. Due to demand and availability this can change, so before dropping something off, you can check with us by email or via Facebook.

Please make sure all goods being donated are in reusable condition, otherwise we may not accept them.

Only one customer can access the Tip Shop drop-off area at a time, please wait in your vehicle until it is free.

Electrical waste

Ewaste should be dropped off at the Tip Shop for reuse or recycling. Most e-waste is accepted for free, however a charge applies for TVs and monitors.

Before donating your unwanted electronic devices, make sure you have signed out of any accounts linked to those devices (such as Apple, Samsung or Google accounts) and follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how to properly remove any personal information (such as photos and videos).

Household batteries

We're running a recycling programme to divert used household batteries from the landfill. See: household battery recycling.

Recycling

The following types of waste need to be dropped off at the Recycle Centre bins:

  • glass bottles and jars
  • paper and cardboard
  • plastic grocery packaging with the numbers 1, 2 and 5
  • aluminium cans and steel tins.

Caps and lids

Please bring metal caps and lids and plastic caps and lids (only 2 and 5) to the drop off area where they can be recycled separately.

Clothing and textiles

From 1 December 2022 we won't have clothing bins on our site as our textile recycler has made the decision to downsize. We are working hard find an alternative.

You can donate your good and reusable clothing to the Tip Shop, however we have limited capacity so please consider alternative local second-hand shops too.

Clothing and bedding that is beyond being used will need to go to the landfill.

Some suggestions around how to avoid clothing waste:

  • opt for quality over quantity
  • buy second hand clothing or swap clothes with friends or family
  • look for clothing stores who have a take back programme.
The recycling bins at the Southern Landfill, including plastic and cans, cardboard and paper
 

Find us online

Shop from the comfort of your home using our Trade Me account You can find us by searching 'tipshop' in the Trade Me member profile section. Please note, we reserve the right to put donated items on Trade Me. All profits go towards the running of your favourite Tip Shop.

Or find out about special deals, interesting items on sale, and what's available on the Wellington Tip Shop on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Other services

Water tanks

200 litre water tanks, which cost $138, are sold at the Tip Shop.

There is a limit of one tank per household.

See more about water tanks.

Garden products

You can also buy bagged compost and garden products at the Tip Shop. View our Capital Compost product range.

We also sell bottle recycling crates and Council rubbish bags.

Contact us

For more information get in touch with our Tip Shop staff.

Phone: 04 383 4438

Email: tipshopenquiries@wcc.govt.nz