Wheelie bins rolled out

South Waikato Council will move to introduce a 240-litre wheelie bin for recycling and a 120-litre wheelie bin for rubbish for its household waste collection service later this year, at the same time Hamilton City Council will do the same.

Last year South Waikato Council received over 500 submissions after consultation was held on the waste collection service.

Council’s strategy and engagement manager Kiri Diamond said that the majority were in favour of the move to wheelie bins

“Of these, 407 people wanted to change from bags to wheelie bins for rubbish. In addition, 68 per cent of people wanted the larger (120 litre) wheelie bin for rubbish, so council endorsed the majority view,” Ms Diamond said.

There was general support to introduce a wheelie bin for recycling, except glass with 464 submissions, as the larger receptacle would encourage recycling and keeping the crate(s) for glass only supported health and safety. Submitters raised a number of points both in favour of and against the options citing previous places they had lived. Council will be taking some of these suggestions on board during its roll out.

While council has endorsed wheelie bins for rubbish, it says this option means they need to support the community through significant behaviour change by education and enforcement of waste minimisation and contamination of recycling.

An extensive communication and engagement campaign will soon be launched in the lead-up to the wheelie bin roll-out, and beyond.