IKEA’s Auckland opening is good news for anyone who has been planning new storage, a different sofa or just a better excuse to organise the house. What’s less exciting is the volume of cardboard, plastic and unwanted furniture that tends to follow once the flat packs arrive. It starts with a tidy trolley in the store and ends with a garage full of boxes, polystyrene crumbs and an armchair you no longer want but can’t fit into the bin. ...

Most Aucklanders are confident they know the rubbish removal rules: recyclables in one bin, rubbish in another, and bulky items out front on collection day. In reality, a surprising number of everyday objects need special handling to avoid causing harm to people, equipment, or the environment. What looks like a simple clear-out can actually involve materials that require careful sorting, recycling, or controlled disposal. ...

Most Aucklanders probably don’t think twice about what happens to their rubbish once it’s wheeled to the kerb or picked up by a collection truck. It disappears, job done, out of sight and out of mind. But what actually happens next is far less tidy than most people realise. ...

It should be simple: fill up the garden waste bin Auckland provides, or bag up a pile of clippings, and you’re done. But garden waste is one of those deceptively tricky jobs. Many Aucklanders find themselves scratching their heads over what counts as green waste, what to do with heavier junk like slabs or broken outdoor furniture, and how to handle piles of debris after a big DIY session. ...