New Kerbside Collection 2023
What are the changes to the kerbside collections?
Are we getting a rubbish bin instead of yellow pre-paid bags?
Yes, starting from 1 September 2023 we’ll no longer be using official pre-paid 60-litre yellow plastic rubbish bags for kerbside collections.
Instead, we’ll be using 140-litre red lidded wheelie bins, just like the ones we use for recycling except a bit smaller. Collections will be fortnightly.
There will be a ‘Pay As You Throw’ (PAYT) tag used to pay for these collections. You’ll be able to purchase the PAYT tags at retail outlets and our Service Centres. The tags will cost $8.00 each.
The new bins will be delivered to households during July and August.
Will the yellow pre-paid bags be collected after 1 September 2023?
Yellow bags will not be collected at kerbside from the 1st of September, however, we'll accept yellow pre-paid bags up to the end of December 2023 at the Waihī and Paeroa Refuse Transfer Stations.
It means you can use up any stock of bags that you have, but yellow bags will not be available for purchase from 1 September 2023, only the pre-paid Pay As You Throw (PAYT) tags.
Why do we need a food scraps bin?
Are the food scraps bin and rubbish bin optional?
No. All properties in kerbside service areas will receive a food scraps bin and a wheelie bin for rubbish.
Will the rubbish, recycling and crates all be collected in the same fortnight?
Why are there so many bins? Where will I put them?
What if I’m not able to manage putting the bins out myself?
From the 1 September, bach or absent owners can register for a Put Back My Bins service for all bins (landfill, recycling, glass and food scraps) at a cost of $30.00 per house per year in addition to the targeted rate. The bins must be placed at kerbside and after collection, will be placed by our contractor inside the property boundary.
Rate payers can register for an Assisted Kerbside Collection for all bins (landfill, recycling, glass and food scraps) at a cost of $60.00 per year in addition to the targeted rate. The contractor will fetch the bins off the property and return them to the same place.
Interested? Contact our friendly customer services team on 0800 734 834 (free in district) or 07 862 8609 to register your interest.
What can I put in my food scraps bin?
The food scraps bin can accept items like fruit, vegetables, cooked food, meat, fish, egg shells and coffee grounds and tea leaves (not tea bags), left overs, spoiled food, cereals, bread and dairy products.
The food scraps bin is for food waste only not green waste (garden or grass clippings). Green waste must still go to the Refuse Transfer Stations.
You will receive an information booklet when your bin is supplied with more detailed information on what can go in the bin as well as tips on how to make the best use of your food scraps bin.
Will I be getting a kerbside bin for green waste as well?
No. Green waste needs to be taken to the Refuse Transfer Stations.
Will my bins’ collection day change?
At the moment, only Waihī will be affected by a change in the collection day. We’ll have more about that and any other changes soon. The collection service will operate across a four-day working week. We’ll let you know more about the kerbside collection calendar well before the start of the service in September 2023.
How will ratepayers / residents pay for the waste services?
Every property in the district pays towards the running of the Waihī and Paeroa Refuse Transfer Stations (RTS). You can recycle free of charge at these sites. We’ll be adding a new Recycling and Green Waste collection centre in River Road Ngātea for Plains residents by 1 September 2023.
Only properties that receive a kerbside recycling service pay a targeted rate for kerbside rubbish and recycling collections. The targeted rate covers the kerbside collection service and disposal costs.
The pre-paid ‘Pay As You Throw’ (PAYT) tag for the 140-litre landfill bin will cost $8.00 per collection. The landfill bin, collected fortnightly, replaces the 60-litre pre-paid official yellow rubbish bags. The $8 is a lower rate per litre of rubbish than the yellow bags.
How can I keep costs down?
The more you divert from your landfill bin into your new food scraps bin (collected weekly) and your recycling wheelie bin and glass recycling crate (collected fortnightly), the less will go in your landfill bin.
Remember, we also have collection bins in the district for soft plastics and Liquid Paper Board cartons (like TetraPaks®). Chances are, you might not need to put your landfill bin out every fortnight if you take advantage of all the recycling options in the district. With the PAYT tag, you'll only need one when you put your landfill bin out for collection.
The goal is to reduce unnecessary items going to landfill by reusing, repurposing, recycling and regenerating the earth’s precious resources.
When will I receive my new bins?
You will receive your bins by August 2023. The schedule for the bin rollout will be confirmed closer to the time.
Will there be any changes to the Refuse Transfer Stations operations?
Yes. Council will take over the management and operation of the Refuse Transfer Stations in Paeroa and Waihī from the 1 September 2023.
We intend to open both of them from 9am - 5pm, Wednesday - Sunday. Both transfer stations will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. (This is an update from our original hours that we posted of Tuesday - Sunday).
From the 1 September, we’ll also open a new Recycling and Green Waste collection centre for the Plains in River Road, Ngātea.
You’ll be able to drop off your clean recycling free of charge. That includes paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, tins and rigid plastics 1,2,5 and clean glass bottles and jars. We’ll determine the operating hours closer to the time and advertise them on our various channels.
What happens to my recycling collected at kerbside (recycling, glass and food scraps)?
Will there be employment opportunities?
There will be many roles available with the new contractor Waste Management. If you are interested in what recruitment opportunities might be available, please contact Waste Management directly or keep an eye out on Seek and Trade Me Jobs.
Council will also be recruiting for staff for the Refuse Transfer Stations. Recruitment will start in July. Positions will be advertised on our website, in the local newspapers and on social media.
Please note: The information in the FAQs has been provided to the best knowledge of our Council at the time these FAQs were prepared in April 2023.
When and how did Council consult on the waste management and minimisation plan?
New kerbside collection starting on 1 September, alternating between a Recycling and food scraps week and a Rubbish and food scraps week.
