‘Dirty tactics’ in rubbish war, councillor says

Claims of ‘‘dirty tactics’’ are being made as a private rubbish company offers householders an alternative to controversial council plans to ditch bags and force the use of bins.

A North Shore councillor says private contractors are trying to undermine Auckland Council’s efforts to look after the environment.

But EnviroWaste says it is just offering choice.

The firm is circulating a newsletter offering the free removal of Auckland Council recycling bins, replacing them with five, free prepaid rubbish bags and the continuation of its own yellow rubbish bag collection service.

However, the recycling bins are what residents are to use for the new council ‘‘pay as you throw’’ wheelie bin rubbish collection starting on the North Shore on April 9.

Auckland Council said the new service is more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly than the current system, keeping plastic bags out of landfill.

North Shore ward councillor Chris Darby said EnviroWaste’s newsletter tactic risks confusing people at the time Auckland Council was introducing its service.

‘‘They are taking advantage of those unsure about the new rubbish service. It’s dirty tactics.’’

‘‘Legally, they are also offering to uplift the the council’s property without Auckland Council’s consent,’’ Darby added.

EnviroWaste spokesperson Joanne Keane said the North Shore has been a competitive ‘‘user pays’’ market for more than 15 years and there are currently four key operators providing kerbside refuse collection services, including the council.

‘‘EnviroWaste is providing competition in the market, not undermining a council service,’’

‘‘Legally, they are also offering to uplift the the council's property without Auckland Council's consent.’’ Chris Darby

Keane said.

‘‘Auckland Council has elected to discontinue bags in favour of bins, while EnviroWaste will continue to offer bags, as it has done for over 15 years.

‘‘A potentially more costeffective way, depending on the volume of refuse the household produces,’’ Keane said.

‘‘A householder can return their council bin and EnviroWaste is merely assisting the householder to do this [by returning bins to council].’’

SIMON SMITH/STUFF Auckland Council and Envirowaste challenge either other in the wake of the Council’s new pay as you throw rubbish service.