Bins roll out for new recycling service

From City Scene, published on 30 March, 2008

Bins roll out: City Development Committee chairperson Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga (above) with one of the council's new, 240L recycling bins. The bins and an information pack (pictured) will be delivered to more than 150,000 Auckland city households between now and the end of June - when the first of the council's new, fortnightly, recycling collections starts. "In a few months, residents will be able to store all recyclable material in their new bins, making recycling easier and more efficient," Mr Lotu-Iiga says. After collection, the bins' contents will be sorted at a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility in Onehunga, helping divert more recyclable material away from landfills.

Auckland City Council will deliver 150,000 new blue-lidded recycling wheelie bins to all eligible households over the next three months. The large 240-litre bins are part of the council's new, improved recycling collection service which starts on 30 June.

The rollout of the bins starts on Monday, 31 March and will happen in three stages:

stage one includes the eastern part of the city - east of Manukau Road, with bins delivered during April
stage two includes the western side of the city - west of Manukau Road, with deliveries in May
stage three focuses on the city's central areas, with deliveries completed in June.

The new recycling bins are about twice the size of the red-lidded bins. They will be delivered to kerbsides and footpaths adjacent to the property address with an information pack taped to the lid. The pack includes a calendar of the new, fortnightly recycling collection weeks, a helpful recycling brochure and a letter from the council.

City Development Committee chairperson Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-liga says it's important that residents read the information attached to their bin to familiarise themselves with the new changes, and to store the bin on their property until collections begin.

"Residents should check the street number on the side of the bin to ensure it is their bin before storing it on their property. The new recycling wheelie bins should not be used before 30 June, as we cannot empty them until this time," says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

The new system will make household recycling easier as paper and cardboard can be placed in the same bin as plastic containers from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry marked with the symbols from 1 to 7, aluminium and steel cans and glass bottles and jars. Contents of the new bins will be taken to the new state-of-the-art Visy recycling facility in Onehunga to be sorted.

"Having a one-bin service makes it easier and more convenient for people to recycle. The new bins and recycling service are expected to lift recycling rates by between 15 and 25 per cent, which will make a major contribution to our goal of reducing waste to landfill," says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

The new recycling collection service will operate on a fortnightly schedule, meaning some residents will have their bins collected during the week beginning 30 June and others the following week.

From July onwards, the current blue recycling crates will not be emptied.

However, residents are encouraged to keep their crate and use it as their indoor recycling bin.

Until the new bins and collections start, residents are asked to keep using the blue recycling crates and to separate their paper and cardboard from their glass bottles, plastic containers and aluminium and steel cans as usual.

For more information on when your bin will be delivered or the new recycling collections, visit the website or phone 379 2028.