Councils tackle increase in rubbish

As visitors flock to South Canterbury for the holiday season, the region’s district councils have readied themselves to handle the associated increase in rubbish.

One council has resourced extra staff and collection vehicles for wheelie bins, while another is urging people to use recycling services as much as possible.

Mackenzie District Council solid waste manager Angie Taylor said the Christmas-New Year period is a busy time for recycling and rubbish.

‘‘We have run an extra red wheelie bin collection in Tekapo and Twizel in previous years to help households manage their extra holiday waste and allow holiday homes to avoid leaving behind a smelly rubbish bin when they head away.’’

Taylor said there were now also pay-per-use bulk rubbish bins, located at the campervan effluent dump stations in Tekapo and Twizel, as well as the Lake MacGregor camping area.

She said for a small charge, the pay-per-use rubbish bins allow travellers to easily dispose of their rubbish and take the pressure of the council’s township litter bins.

Waimate District Council spokeswoman Alena Lynch said the council is not expecting any issues for dealing with rubbish during the holiday period.

‘‘Changes to collection services during the holidays have been well publicised...’’

Timaru District Council waste minimisation manager Ruth Clarke said there are three contractors working at the Caroline Bay Carnival to manage the influx of people.

‘‘Waste management will collect our bins as usual, and then we have someone on site every day,’’ she said.

‘‘They [the carnival] have really stepped up quite well during the past few years.’’