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Waste management in multi-tenancy dwellings

The following information outlines ways to address refuse and recyclables storage and collection from multi-tenancy dwellings before buildings are built, in order to avoid current problems. It explains bylaw changes and offers a free advice service.

Auckland City is experiencing a rapid increase in the type of housing described as 'multi-tenancy dwellings' as more and more people choose to live in apartment blocks or units.

The current weekly service provided to empty a wheelie bin and a blue recycling bin from the kerbside outside each property in most of Auckland City is not appropriate for multi-tenancy dwellings. These pose particular challenges: access for collection trucks is difficult (and sometimes impossible) and footpaths are often obstructed by the high numbers of bins (in some cases up to 80 bins from one multi-tenancy dwelling).!

To address these problems, Auckland City Council has made some bylaw changes in Part 22, which regulates collection methods. The bylaw requires that refuse collectors must be authorised, and receptacles approved, by Auckland City Council - with the following specific conditions:

• alternative methods of refuse disposal may be required for a particular site
• the number of receptacles that can be put out at one site on one day can be restricted
• receptacles must be placed immediately outside the property to which they belong or on the owner's or occupier's site
• refuse from private roads will only be collected where prior arrangements have been made with council in writing.

If you are a builder or developer of a multi-tenancy dwelling, you should consider the following points at design stage, to avoid problems later on:

• Is there sufficient space for a special bin or bins, eg one that could be collected by a front loading truck?
• Is there enough room for trucks to have access to the area, eg is the entrance of adequate height and width to allow room for the collection vehicle?
• Is there enough room for bins to be placed safely on the footpath, if you need to place anything there for collection?
• Are there options on site for residents wanting to sort their recyclables?

Free advice

Auckland City Council officers can advise you on refuse and recyclables collections. Please contact us for information, or to arrange an appointment or site visit.

• Each rateable property is entitled to a red-lidded wheelie bin except for some streets in and around the central business district where bags are used. There is no council recyclables collection in the CBD, however there are a number of privately run collections (see Recycling in the Yellow Pages).