 New kerbside collection service
The Christchurch City Council is introducing a new three-bin domestic kerbside collection service that will reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
From early 2009 the Council will provide:
- a 240 litre wheelie bin for the fortnightly collection of an expanded range of recyclables
- an 80 litre wheelie bin for the weekly collection of compost, and
- a 140 litre wheelie bin for the fortnightly collection or rubbish.
It is estimated the enhanced kerbside collection service will divert 35,000 tonnes of organic material and 7,000 tonnes of recyclables from the Kate Valley Landfill each year. This will reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill by one third.
How the service will work for you
There will be flexibility under the new system to cater for properties where using wheelie bins could be difficult. For example:
Hills – Wheelie bin collection systems are successfully used both here in New Zealand around the World in locations with very hilly terrain (e.g. Queenstown, San Francisco and Sydney). It is accepted however that there will be properties where wheelie bins may not be feasible. In such cases the Contractor will provide an alternative collection service.
Apartments – The contractor will be visiting apartment block and will work with residents to provide a service which suits each block. Options offered will include the use of large communal bins which the contractor will collect onsite rather than at kerbside.
Mobility impaired – Most people will find wheelie bins easier to take to the kerbside than lifting recycling crates and the black bags. Smaller recycling and rubbish wheelie bins will be available for people that have difficulties storing or shifting the bins. At any one time, because of the fortnightly recycling and rubbish collections, only two wheelie bins will need to be taken to the street on any collection day.
Composters – Although householders receive an organics bin, the Council will continue to encourage the city’s home composting enthusiasts as this is still the best option for the environment. The small 80 litre organics bin will provide home composters with an additional option for materials they may not compost at home, such as meat scraps, rose trimmings and weeds.
Closer to the roll out of the new scheme in February-March 2009 the contractor will work with residents with difficult properties to ensure an appropriate collection service is provided.
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