Recycling

We are proposing a change to recycling. The current kerbside collection service using crates has not been reviewed for many years.

New system

We are proposing that households would receive a 240-litre wheelie bin for mixed recycling, and a crate or wheelie bin for glass - both collected fortnightly.

This would mean an increase in the current $40 per annum targeted rate to an estimated total of $105 per property from 1 July 2021. This would apply to all households. The current community recycling stations would be removed. This does not include the recycling station at Seaview, which is run by a private company.

We’ve developed this proposal as a way of addressing problems with the current system, and we’d value your feedback.

Households would also be able to opt for a smaller wheelie bin for recyclables such as a 120-litre bin. The targeted rate remains the same regardless of bin size.

Current system

Council charges $40 per annum as a targeted rate to households that are able to receive this service. The advice Council has received during its review of the recycling service is that the existing crate service cost is expected to increase to an estimated $116 per annum from 1 July 2021. This is largely because of higher processing costs, changing market values for recyclables and less efficient manual collection methods.

Recycling in schools

As part of the recycling change, we’re also considering making this service free to the 200 or so schools, early childhood centres and kohanga reo in our city.

This would mean that the cost of providing free services to schools could be spread across ratepayers. Based on information from a neighbouring council that has implemented this practice, the cost (if funded by households) would be less than $2 per annum.

We would include this in our next LTP consultation, and would like to hear your views leading up to this.