Porirua rolling out recycling wheelie bins
Wheelie bins will replace crates for kerbside recycling in Porirua from July.
The council will provide two recycling bins to residents: A 240-litre bin for general recycling that will be collected fortnightly and a separate 140-litre bin for glass that will be collected monthly.
With increasing costs for the current recycling service – the budget including council overheads is $914,000 plus tax a year – the council has made the move to wheelie bins for the same amount it would have cost to stick with the 60-litre crates.
Mayor Mike Tana said people wanted wheelie bins so when the current recycling contract came up for renewal, the opportunity arose to make it happen. ‘‘You’ve also told us wheelie bins are easier to use – items don’t need to be bundled up and you can fit a lot more in.
‘‘But as well as being more convenient for most residents the use of wheelie bins should see an increase in the amount of recyclables collected – so the planet is winning too,’’ he said.
‘‘Wheelie bins stop recycling blowing around the streets on windy days, and that’s a real plus.’’
A council spokesperson said litter escaping from crates on windy days was a regular source of complaint.
‘‘We anticipate a few residents will have issues with the new wheelie bins – but expect far more will welcome them.
‘‘For those that do have problems – we are working through a range of solutions or alternatives that we will suggest before the new service takes effect.’’
The council has not yet decided what to do with the old crates once the new service kicks in.
Rubbish collection is a separate contract and will not be affected by these changes.
While some Wellington City and Ka¯piti Coast residents already enjoy wheelie bins for their recycling, Lower Hutt residents largely rely on crates, and Upper Hutt City Council provides drop-off bins but not a ratepayer funded kerbside collection service.