Bay beach visitors know how to be tidy Kiwis

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Hawke's Bay holidaymakers are being praised for keeping beaches clean during the busy summer break.

Central Hawke's Bay District Council utilities manager Brett Way said environmental awareness and love for local beaches meant people were tidying up after themselves. "People who live in the beach communities collect rubbish for the council and bring it in as part of a scheme," he said.

"A lot of our beaches are really remote so people who go there generally know the community and have family ties to the area," he said. For its part, the council has upped its workload over the holidays, which have been particularly busy this year due to good weather.

"We increased our rubbish collection on the beaches from once a week to twice a week."

Mr Way said 2014 had been a busy year for recycling overall.

"We have noticed it has been one of the busiest years yet."

A waste reduction expert says councils are doing their best to reduce landfill waste.

Envision managing director Matthew Luxton said regional councils have a difficult role.

"Councils do the best with what they're given and councils have to deal with the packaging manufacturers create.

"That's a hard position to be in, especially for smaller councils, and I'm in full support of the councils."

He said people should always remember the "waste hierarchy" - reduce, reuse, recycle.

"Think: Do you really need to buy this item or not?"

People could also reduce waste by buying in bulk.

"Recycling should not be the first option for people, it should be the last resort after reducing and reusing," Mr Luxton said.