Bin or bags – time to make your choice

Island prepares for new roadside rubbish collection

Publish Date : 16 Jul 2019
Bin or bags – time to make your choice

Now that the new roadside rubbish collection service has been launched on Aotea Great Barrier Island, Auckland Council is encouraging the local community to make sure they have either bags or a bin ready for when the changes take full effect on Monday, 5 August 2019.  There will be no changes to the roadside recycling collection service.

“There are two options available to properties which currently pay a waste charge,” says Parul Sood, Programme Director Waste Solutions.

"People can choose between an annual allocation of 52 60-litre official Auckland Council plastic rubbish bags or a 120-litre roadside wheelie bin. Wheelie bins are proving to be a popular choice for many locals."

Auckland Council Rubbish Bags

A transition period has been in place since 1 July to give households time to collect their official Auckland Council rubbish bags or opt-in for a bin and have it delivered. 

Bags should be collected from the Aotea Great Barrier Island Service Centre, 75 Hector Sanderson Road in Claris, in time for the weekly roadside collection on 5 August. The service centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm. The cost of these bags is covered by the 2019/2020 waste charge on presentation of the bag redemption letter sent to all waste charge payers.

Ratepayers who do not live permanently on Aotea Great Barrier Island are able to nominate another person, such as a tenant or property manager, to collect the bags. For other options, contact Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

Opt-in For A Bin

To opt-in for a bin, you can visit the Aotea Great Barrier Island Service Centre or call them on 09 429 0258 or call Auckland Council on 09 301 0101. The council is encouraging people to opt-in no later than Sunday, 28 July 2019 to ensure bins are received before 5 August. Those who opt in by 28 July will have the bin delivered to their properties between 29 July and 4 August.

Ratepayers or property owners that currently do not pay a waste charge are also able to opt in if they wish to use the new roadside rubbish collection service.  For whānau who used to use the waste drop-off points at Port Fitzroy, Shoal Bay/Tryphena, Whangaparapara, or outside the Claris landfill and you want to know what to do now; or for those locals who live on a boat or a water-access only property, please contact the local service centre to talk about what options are available to you and work out a solution that will best meet your needs. Official Auckland Council rubbish bags are available for sale from the local service centre at a cost of $3.90 each.

After 5 August, only official council rubbish bags or wheelie bins will be serviced each week. Rubbish left on the roadside in unofficial bags or containers will be managed by Auckland Council as illegally dumped waste.

Local residents and ratepayers can visit makethemostofwaste.co.nz to find out more details or check out the handy FAQ brochure available from the Aotea Great Barrier Island Service Centre.

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