Aucklanders have shown strong opposition to a six-month trial to move kerbside rubbish collection to fortnightly, public consultation shows.
Auckland Council proposed the trial to begin in February to August, affecting parts of Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure/Tāmaki, and Clendon Park/Weymouth, if a vote passes next month to roll it out.
The trial, aimed to assess a wider rollout of reduced rubbish collection, would affect 10,000 households.
Results from a public consultation in October showed 78% of submitters opposed the trial, 4% were unsure and 18% supported it.
A total of 5086 submissions were received.
Council general manager waste solutions Justine Haves said submission results will be considered when the Policy, Planning and Development Committee sits next month to vote on the trial.
No date has been set for the meeting yet.
"The feedback is valuable and means we can review how effectively the proposed trial design is able to address or mitigate many of the concerns raised," Haves said.
Submitters who opposed the proposed trial had concerns about whether their overall bin capacity would be sufficient, including managing fuller bins, potential odour and hygiene issues and how a change like this could work for large or multi-generational households.
"On the other hand, supporters highlighted the need to reduce waste to landfill and the opportunity to test the service before any wider decisions are made.
"Some also noted they don’t produce enough rubbish to need a weekly collection."
Council waste solutions general manager Justine Haves talks about the proposed fortnightly rubbish collection trial, which has opened for consultation. (Source: Breakfast)
There were 883 submitters from Te Atatū Peninsula – of which 79% opposed and 19% supported.
From Panmure/Tāmaki, of the 697 submissions received, 80% opposed and 16% were in support of the proposal.
Clendon Park/Weymouth had 82% of 531 submitters in opposition of the proposed trial, and 15% in support of it.
Haves said the council carefully analysed the submitters feedback, and thanked those who shared their views during consultation.
"If the trial goes ahead, we will offer additional and larger bins at no cost, support households with higher waste needs, and provide a one-off rates remission for participating ratepayers.
"We’ll also closely monitor how households are managing throughout the trial and adjust the support available if further help is needed."
The proposed trial is designed to support Auckland’s 2024 Waste Minimisation and Management Plan, which sets a target to reduce household kerbside waste by almost a third per person by 2030.
Haves said 18 other councils run fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections – including Hamilton and Tauranga – where households have reduced waste to landfill by half.
– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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