Proposed changes to Tauranga’s kerbside collection

File photo.

Tauranga City Council is raising concerns about how much waste is sending up in the landfill in the city, 'when it doesn't need to”.

The curb this, Council is proposing to add a new kerbside food scraps, recycling and rubbish collection to their existing kerbside glass recycling collection.

Residents are invited to find out more and have their say by filling in a five-minute survey at www.talkingtrash.co.nz
Mayor Tenby Powell says he's looking forward to making positive changes in this area.

'Tauranga has one of the worst rates per capita in New Zealand for sending household waste to landfill.
'More importantly, nearly 70 per cent of household waste that is sent to landfill could be recycled or composted.”

Right now, only residents who take their recycling to a council transfer station or have contracted a private company to collect their recycling, take part in recycling.

'That means a large number of recyclables are sent to landfill unnecessarily,” says Tenby.

'Tauranga has lower recycling rates than other parts of New Zealand, and these rates are going down, not up. With a growing population the problem is only set to increase, we need to urgently address this.”

Over the past few years, the council has completed extensive research and engaged with the community through the Waste Management & Minimisation Plan and Long Term Plan 2018-2028 to come up with the best solutions for our household waste problem.

He says now's the right time for the council to share what they're thinking with the community so they can have their say.

What the council is thinking

The council has thought of new ways to make it easier for households to separate waste that could be recycled or composted, from rubbish that needs to go into landfill.

This involves the council taking responsibility for household kerbside collections, which are currently largely in the hands of private operators.

The council is proposing to add a new kerbside food scraps, recycling and rubbish collection to their existing kerbside glass recycling collection.

'Our priority is to reduce waste to landfill and do what's best for the community, future generations and the environment,” says Tenby.

Costs

'As a result of these proposals we are also able to reduce the long-term costs of managing waste in landfill for our city. It's a win/win really,” says Head of Infrastructure for the council Nic Johansson.

As rates will be on the minds of many residents, it's important to know that the council is expecting their full suite of kerbside collections to be better value than what is currently available from private operators.

However, the council will only know the final cost of the service once the tender process is complete in early 2020.

The council is also proposing to make the service fairer by giving residents the choice of different sized/cost wheelie bins for waste collections.

While the council is proposing the service to be fully funded by rates - making the service cheaper for the average household - the council is also asking the community if they'd prefer a ‘pay-as-you-throw' rubbish collection.

This would involve buying tags from the supermarket to attach to the wheelie bin every time it's put out for collection.

Be part of the change we make

All residents in Tauranga are invited to have their say on the proposed kerbside collections by taking the five-minute survey at www.talkingtrash.co.nz by December 13.

The results of the survey will be incorporated in conversations with market suppliers, to make the service work harder for all residents.

As Tenby sees it 'The more feedback we receive, the better we can make this work for everyone”.

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10 comments

Council

Posted on 26-11-2019 07:45 | By The Caveman

Fell over when they passed the buck to private "rubbish" collectors some years ago. !!!! Most homeowner will NOT pay private operators for two/three different bins. "Rubbish" is rubbish and it all goes into the cheapest bin!!


Rubbish proposals are rubbish..

Posted on 26-11-2019 09:31 | By bruce.deirdre@xtra.co.nz

MR MAYOR... If you are so keen to make this happen make sure that it is affordable for beneficiaries to manage...if green waste was fee-free as is re-cycling at the dump, bins not be needed....if customers wish to buy green bins, rubbish bins from private contractors so be it.... As many of us are beneficiaries we only have finite resources and we do not get to choose our remuneration from a pot...!!!


unfair

Posted on 26-11-2019 10:00 | By dolofry

The suggested new rubbish proposal penalises those who already put out a bag only every two or three weeks and compost all waste. Why should we pay for those who do not recycle or compost?


Laughing stock

Posted on 26-11-2019 10:16 | By Ben Dover

The current system when dealing with the collection of different refuse is ridiculous and any half sensible council would have had this sorted by now!


Price!

Posted on 26-11-2019 12:27 | By Kancho

We already pay very high rates in Tauranga. Used to be council collected household rubbish. Rates went higher but we then had to pay extra for rubbish collection by private contractors which in our house for green bin, recycling , general rubbish and glass is over $500 per annum. So increased rates, increased water, increased rubbish collection make it more unaffordable. Solution put everything into one bin. What a surprise ! So oh wise council get the costs down or it will get worse. Already finding rubbish dumped on the side of the road, half a dozen black plastic bags dumped within a three hundred meters of my home ! Really can't afford the costs on superannuation.


@Caveman

Posted on 26-11-2019 12:32 | By Eric Bantona

This approach follows many other cities and countries around the world in the way in which we recycle and dispose of waste. Making it an opt out scheme will only increase the problem as those that do not care will just put everything into one bin bag. The only way for society to ensure it does its best to recycle and dispose of rubbish efficiently is to enforce a full service. And Caveman - go back to your cave. Your attitude stinks as much as your full rubbish bag of inconsideration to the environment.


Great Idea

Posted on 26-11-2019 14:02 | By Yadick

Long overdue. Make it happen but make sure it's affordable for all and not just another money making racquet. The options idea sounds good.


New rubbish disposable suggestion

Posted on 26-11-2019 14:27 | By Val.M

I am 84 living on my own, not in good health, and love my private collector, Kleana Bins. This last year only paid $155.00 for whole year of collecting off my section (am down a driveway) includes normal rubbish collection plus recyclables. Council - can you do that good? Already paying for glass recycling which have only used twice since it started! I can see that if council take it over there would be massive increase in prices. I don’t have many scraps that could be compostable as don’t have a vegey garden. Please think carefully. Tried answering your survey but it doesn’t really suit me so stopped as doesn’t make sense in my circumstance.


Raise rates

Posted on 26-11-2019 16:22 | By PaulieB

Unfortunately a lot of people cannot afford to pay for recycling, some can't get to the recycling centers (or don't care to) so the only way to increase our community recycling is for TCC to pay for it and pass it on to rate payers. Then landlords can pass it on to tenants, etc. Our rates are not high.


You want us to compost?

Posted on 27-11-2019 14:35 | By Tom Ranger

Give us compost bins! A one off cost to the rate-payer. What they really want is to create a revenue stream for their preferred contractors. How can they proclaim to have cost benefits already without having any numbers to prove it! Not that i'd believe your numbers anyway and over time we all know the costs will increase. This is simply a false statement to attempt to get it over the line and increase it later!!!!!


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