CBD recycling success

Effective public recycling: Council found a recent three-month trial of recycling bins in the CBD to be successful and as a result the bins will remain permanently.

From City Scene, published on 22 November, 2009.

Aucklanders have embraced the opportunity to recycle in public places during a recent three-month trial of 22 bins in the CBD. As a result, Auckland City Council will now keep recycling bins permanently in the CBD and expand the number and areas they are located.

The trial bins, which were funded by the Ministry for the Environment as part of its "Love New Zealand" programme, collected an average of 3.72kg per week. Of this, 87 per cent was recyclable - a very good recovery rate for a trial period.

The recycling bin collection will be absorbed within existing contracts at no extra cost to ratepayers until mid-2011.

As well as promoting the benefits of recycling, the purpose of the trial was to work out the most effective methods of public recycling, including the most popular bin type and locations.

City Development Committee chairperson Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar welcomed the move. "Aucklanders are great recyclers, so we will be introducing more recycling bins around the city including in areas that will get a lot of use during the Rugby World Cup - such as the Eden Park precinct," he says.