Prohibited Items

View Our List Of Prohibited Items

Sims Metal – New Zealand, is committed to its local communities. We continue to invest heavily in effective safety management systems with dedicated and committed staff whose roles are to ensure safe work practices.

To provide the best metal recycling service and to comply with local safety standards, environmental laws and regulations for the health and safety of all our customers, employees, neighbours and communities, Sims Metal New Zealand does not accept hazardous waste and materials.

We do not accept any items that are predominantly non-metal. This includes items where the metal would be very difficult to separate and extract eg concrete filled posts.

If you are unsure on what items you can recycle or if you have additional questions regarding this, please talk to one of your local representatives at one of our nine sites around the country. You can see our branches’ contact information here.

You can also refer to our list of prohibited items below: 

Prohibited Materials

Gas Bottles / Pressure Vessels / Accumulators

LPG, oxygen, acetylene, fire extinguishers or any other compressed gas cylinders.

Flammable Liquids / Gasses

Fuels, oils, paints, thinners, spirits etc.

Oxidising Agents

Oxidisers, organic peroxides.

Corrosive Material

Acid and alkalines, with acception of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB); items containing corrosive materials are are not accepted and cannot be delivered to site.

Explosives / Ordnance

Projectiles, military ordnance, explosive devices, detonators, fireworks or similar devices.

Toxic Substances

Including poisons, pesticide, mercury, herbicide.

Asbestos

Under no circumstances asbestos or asbestos contaminated material are to be delivered to site.

Substances

Which could impact on health e.g. carcinogens, respiratory sensitisers, reproductive toxicity, target organ toxicity, germ cell mutagens, aspiration toxicity.

Environmental Harm

Substances that are hazardous to the environment, aquatic toxicity.

Radioactive Material

Isotopes, industrial radiation gauges, radiation sources, primary x‐ray or cancer treatment equipment.

Unclean Drums / Tanks

Drums and/or tanks that do not meet our requirements as per the Sims Metal Management Guideline for acceptance of drums and tanks.

Non‐Metallic Refuse

Loose non-metalic items such as masonry, rubber, compostable items, soil, plastic, fabrics and glass.

CFCs

Devices that may contain ozone depleting substances such as refrigerator compressors and airconditioning units. Any item that may contain ozone-depleting substances must be degassed prior to acceptance.

Biological Hazards ​

Items contaminated by medical waste, this includes but not limited to, needles or medical waste, dead animals or residual food materials, containers or canisters used in a laboratory or in the treatment of biological material.

Rechargeable Batteries ​

Any rechargeable batteries and any container within a scrap load will be rejected and returned to the customer at their cost, e.g. Lithium‐ion, nickel cadmium, nickel‐metal hydride, etc. are capable of causing fires in stockpiles.
Auckland Head Office

Cnr Kahu & Manu St, Otahuhu

Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Phone: 09 276 1809 

Hamilton

38A Northway Street, Te Rapa

Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Phone: 07 848 0800

Christchurch

48 Wickham Street, Bromley

Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Phone: 03 384 4059

Auckland Steel Yard

263 James Fletcher Drive, Otahuhu

Monday to Friday: 7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Phone: 09 276 1809 

Wellington

14 Barnes Street, Seaview

Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: 04 568 4342

Dunedin

5 Wharf Street, Dunedin South

Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: 03 477 0427

Napier

5 Angus Place, Onekawa

Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: 06 843 7434

Nelson

2 Merton Place, Stoke

Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: 03 548 6766

Invercargill

147 Mersey Street, West Invercargill

Monday to Friday: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: 03 214 0583

Learn more about our history here.

ALL AUCKLAND SITES ARE CLOSED MONDAY 13TH OF FEBRUARY DUE TO THE DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS CUSED BY CYCLONE GABRIELLE. WE HOPE TO RE-OPEN TUESDAY 14TH OF FEBRUARY.