Rubbish, recycling get a good hearing
An inorganic rubbish collection, the ability to opt out of the green and food waste bins and how much it costs to dump rubbish at the transfer station were key points for discussion at a waste management hearing on Thursday.
The New Plymouth District Council laid out its preferred rubbish collection option at the hearing on the proposed waste management and minimisation plan.
Its officers have recommended to replace the red rubbish bags with 120L bins collected every two weeks and add a new green and food waste 120 litre bin, also collected fortnightly, at a cost of $73.89 per annum per ratepayer.
The new wheelie bins would add $10.09 to the rates bill, giving a total of $83.98 increase in waste charges.
Waitara community Board chairman Andrew Larson said he didn’t want any more bins, there were enough already.
Some people wouldn’t have the space for four bins, he said.
‘‘I’d like to keep the rubbish bags they work well.’’
Like other submitters Larson said fees at the transfer station were too high.
‘‘I don’t mind paying a fee, but 40 or 50 bucks is a lot of money for some people.’’
Fly-tipping was a big issue in Waitara and it would be interesting to see if the fees were reduced the problem would stop, he said.
And Larson wanted an inorganic collection once a year to pick up fridges, mattresses or couches an idea also favoured by other submitters.
New Plymouth man Herb Spannagl said he composted all his food waste for the garden so he asked the council if he could opt out, but was told no.
‘‘I can’t see why ratepayers should feather the nest of contractors. Why do you want to penalise people who are at the zero waste target? We are going to have a bin forced on us that will sit empty.’’
Greenawaste owner Paul Morrison was concerned the council’s proposed green waste collection could negatively impact his business.
In spring the bins won’t be big enough and the rest of the year they won’t be needed, he said.
‘‘Some people won’t ever need the bins, but any avid gardners will need more.’’
Positive Aging chairman Lance Girling-Butcher wanted a solution to the number of bins cluttering the footpath making it hard for disabled people and those on mobility scooters to get past.
For John Bannan bins were an issue at his home. His house in Urenui is half kilometre down the driveway from the gate, he said.
‘‘I can get rubbish bags down the drive, but not a wheelie bin. The council just say ‘tough luck’.’’
He said he was told to put his recycling into a rubbish bag. Bannan could take it to the transfer station, but then he has to pay twice, he said.
New Plymouth resident Steve Bates preferred the bins to the red rubbish bags, which he wants gone.
‘‘Plastic is part of the problem.’’ If the bags were kept the council should look at compostable or biodegradable bags, he said.
His advice was to postpone the food waste/green waste bin idea until more research was done.
Another submitter Mike Rabe agreed and said education was critical.
‘‘As residents get more involved in recycling they will get more passionate about it. Residents have to step up to the mark and take responsibility.’’