"We have the waste minimisation act, which is a good piece of law but it's failed to reach its full potential for more product stewardship - we are looking for more opportunities with e-waste and tyres, and perhaps move to mandatory schemes," she said.
Accompanied by Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and Napier mayor Bill Dalton, she noted the Omarunui landfill, which was operated jointly by the councils, seemed to be well run and clean.
"We still have to reduce volumes ... I'm seeing strong co-operation between these councils.
"I'm encouraged they have received so many submissions - I think there is huge interest in reducing waste."
Last year 84,000 tonnes of waste was received at Omarunui landfill from Hastings and Napier, nearly 80 per cent of which could be composted or recycled.
In a bid to reduce this volume and extend the life of the landfill, the councils had proposed replacing rubbish bags with rubbish, recycling and green waste wheelie bin options for kerbside collection.
The proposed removal of rubbish bags was also driven by health and safety issues for workers handling them.
"Evaluating the success of other areas using the three-bin system shows that it increased recovery of compostables and recycling rates in those areas, which can reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill. We are wanting our residents' opinion on whether they believe it will work here," said deputy mayor and joint waste futures committee chairperson Tania Kerr.
People had a choice between 80 litre and 120 litre wheelie bins for rubbish, three or four crates for recycling, and bins for garden waste only, or garden green waste and kitchen food scraps.
The rubbish wheelie bins ranged from $94 to $113 a year, depending on size.
Three recycling crates would cost $59 a year, and four $49 a year, and it was estimated a bin for garden waste and scraps would cost $104 a year, or $70 a year for just garden waste.
A comparison with existing costs was not an exact science, a Hastings council spokesperson said, given the varied cost of wheelie bin services and because cost and service levels in Hastings and Napier differed.
According to the council, a Hastings household on the rubbish collection route using two 60 litre orange council bags a week cost $5.07 a week for collection (including council rates).
That cost was made up of 27 cents a week charged on council rates and the price of two 60 litre orange bags ($2.40) each. Smaller bags, 40 litres, cost $1.60.
Residents using a private wheelie bin contractor paid for that bin (usually 140 litre or 240 litre) and the council rate.
In Napier, for rubbish collection only, a household using only the council kerbside rubbish service paid $1.27 a week for the collection of a maximum of 120 litres of rubbish, plus the cost of supplying their own bags.
As with Hastings, residents using a private wheelie bin contractor paid for that bin (usually 140 litre or 240 litre) and the council rate.
The cost of picking up recycling in both Hastings and Napier was currently paid through rates.
In Hastings the cost to those on recycling routes was 85 cents a week (for weekly service); the cost in Napier was 50 cents a week (for a fortnightly service).
Among the draft plan options the indicated costs for supplying rubbish and recycling-specific bins ranged from $4.09 to $5.31 a week, paid through rates.
The option chosen and the tendering process would dictate the final cost.
For all the potential options and submissions go to: www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz/wmmp.
Submissions on the Draft Joint Waste Management and Minimisation Plan close on March 23.
Submission forms are also available from the Napier and Hastings libraries or council offices.
