Aucklanders will have the chance to share their views on a proposed six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections in selected areas of Auckland during the consultation period from 13 to 31 October 2025.
If approved, the trial would take place in parts of Te Atatū Peninsula, Panmure / Tāmaki, and Clendon Park / Weymouth, starting in late February 2026. Rubbish collections would move from weekly to fortnightly, while weekly food scraps and fortnightly recycling services would remain unchanged.
So far, 18 councils across New Zealand have rolled out fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections, including Hamilton and Tauranga where household kerbside waste to landfill has reduced by about half.
General Manager Waste Solutions, Justine Haves, says community feedback will be critical in deciding whether the trial goes ahead.
“No decision on a trial has been made yet – this is your opportunity to tell us what you think. We want to understand how households feel about the idea of a fortnightly rubbish collection trial,” she says.
Ms Haves says the feedback gathered will be vital in shaping whether a six-month trial should proceed and understanding barriers that some households may face.
“Every year Aucklanders send over a million tonnes of rubbish to landfill. The proposed trial is a chance for trial participants to help us explore new ways to reduce waste and protect our environment. By sharing your views through the consultation, you’ll help shape the future of Auckland’s waste services as we move towards a more sustainable Tāmaki Makaurau.”
If the six-month-long trial goes ahead, ratepayers in the selected areas would receive a reduction on their final 2026 rates instalment, due May 2026. The amount of the remission would depend on the size of their rubbish bin at the start of the proposed trial, ranging from $23.30 for an 80-litre bin to $46.50 for a 240-litre bin.
Households that put their small bin out monthly or less often during the proposed trial would also be eligible for an extra financial incentive, recognising their efforts to reduce waste.
With proper use of food scraps and recycling bins, we expect most households should find their current bin capacity sufficient, as recent audits show roughly half of what’s in our rubbish bin could be recycled or reprocessed instead of going to landfill.
For those that find they need more capacity, larger or additional bins would be available at no cost, with some rubbish bin options available after one month of the proposed trial to encourage households to give the new system a try.
Consultation on the proposed trial runs from 13 to 31 October 2025. Feedback can be given online, at in-person drop-in sessions, or through feedback forms available at libraries and local board offices.
All feedback will be presented to the relevant committee of the Governing Body in December 2025, who will then decide whether the trial should go ahead.
More information about the proposed trial, including the consultation document, can be found on AK Have Your Say website with consultation opening on 13 October.
