Waiheke Island residents have these tips and updates for people enjoying the island to act sustainably and help us get to zero waste.
Roadside collections now 100 per cent electric
Two new side-loading electric vehicles have joined Waiheke’s roadside collections fleet, making Waiheke’s weekly collections 100 per cent zero emissions. These two FSR/SEA-Drive® 120 vehicles join a smaller Isuzu NQR, which has been in service for the past twelve months.
Electric vehicles are a lot quieter than diesel trucks, so pay attention when they’re passing through your neighbourhood.
Local Board chair Cath Handley says,
“Waiheke is future focused and making changes right now to clean up our air and to play our role in preserving the planet. We invite everyone to act, not just to talk about change. These trucks are helping every local household to reduce its carbon footprint.”
Stephen Fairweather, General Manager at SEA Electric (NZ) shares how they are “proud to be involved in the electric vehicle movement on Waiheke Island, with technology that genuinely makes a positive change for the environment. The SEA-Drive® power-system has made it possible for these vehicles to be 100 per cent electric, not only for driving operations, but also by providing power for all of the ancillary refuse functions of the vehicles.”
Re-use shop open for summer
If you need a new beach chair or beach read, the Recovery Shop is now open at the Tahi Rd site of the Waiheke Community Resource Recovery Park in Ostend. Stop by 4-6 Tahi Rd between 8am and 4pm any day of the week to pick up something for your home or holiday. You can also donate quality items looking for a new home by dropping them off at the transfer station area of the Community Resource Recovery Park in Ostend.
Community recycling centres are a key part of Auckland’s strategy to get to zero waste by 2040. There are nine facilities across the region that divert waste from landfill. By 2030, the goal is for a majority of Aucklanders to live within 20 minutes of a community recycling centre. Waiheke has now achieved that goal for the majority of our local residents.
After hours waste disposal
Visitors can purchase bags for roadside rubbish collections at Four Square or Countdown or the Auckland Council Service Centre in Ostend.
After Hours Visitor Waste Bins are located at the fence line of the Community Resource Recovery Park (108-110 Ostend Road) and are available for use after hours from 4.30pm to 8am daily. They will also be available on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Please put your rubbish into an official pre-paid council rubbish bag before using the after-hours bins. Sort your clean recycling into the bin provided to help minimise waste to landfill.
Summer barge
The waste barge will be moored in Man O’ War Bay, Waiheke Island, from Saturday 18 December 2021 to Tuesday 8 February 2022, and will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. Boaties can tie up to the barge or row out and safely secure their vessels alongside the barge to dispose of rubbish and recycling correctly into the bins provided.
