From today, Tauranga City Council rubbish bags will temporarily be plain black bags with the standard pink sticker.

They will no longer have the usual printed white writing.

The decision is to accommodate the impact COVID-19 is having on the supplier of the bags.

Council sustainability and waste manager Rebecca Maiden, says the bags are exactly the same, just minus the printing.

'Please look carefully when purchasing to ensure the roll of bags are the official council bags with the pink sticker."

Initially there might be a combination of official printed and unprinted bags on the supermarket shelves.

'If it has a pink sticker, then it's a council rubbish bag."

Residents need to place their bags out for collection no later than 7.30am on the designated collection day, ensuring the pink sticker is facing the road so that the drivers can easily identify the bags.

Council bags adhere to the health and safety standards that keep workers safe. Now more than ever, it's important that bags don't rip, requiring staff to pick up scattered litter, says council.

As always, non-official bags without the pink sticker will not be collected.

There are no changes to collections on Monday, April 27 – ANZAC Day.