Whangārei District Councillor Gavin Benney tidies up rubbish in Tikipunga

Before: The ditch along Vinegar Hill Rd before councillor Gavin Benney cleaned it up. Photo/Supplied

Whangārei District Councillor Gavin Benney wants to turn a ripple into a wave.

The Denby ward councillor spent around 2-1/2 hours picking up rubbish from Tikipunga roadsides last Thursday.

He's putting out the challenge for people to "take some responsibility and pride in their own area" and follow suit.

Benney's move was brought about after councillors visited Puwera landfill, where all Whangārei's non-recyclable waste is dumped, to see how it is going. He said rubbish and recycling are issues people like to talk about.

He campaigned on cleaning up the roadside during last year's byelection and decided it was time to do something.

Benney drives along Vinegar Hill Rd every day and said the ditches on the side of the road are "always full of rubbish".

"So I got a few rubbish bags and picked it up."

After: The ditch after councillor Gavin Benney had finished his rubbish clean up. Photo/Supplied

He picked up rubbish from the ditches along Vinegar Hill Rd from Corks Rd to the bridge, from along Main Rd, which comes off Vinegar Hill Rd and a couple of other spots along Vinegar Hill Rd.

He collected 3-1/2 rubbish bags altogether - mostly energy drink cans and bottles, sushi containers and fast food packaging. He sorted his collection, and recycled what he could.

Benney's plea is for people to tidy up their own streets and sides of the road.

"When they put their rubbish out go and pick up the extra bits."

From there, he'd like to see people take responsibility at beaches and other places.

Benney wants it to become natural so there don't need to be specific days for clean ups any more.

Gavin Benney wants people to pick up rubbish outside their houses. Photo/Michael Cunningham

He acknowledged there are "groups of people out there doing good stuff" and he wants his wave to support them.

Benney also wants to see people making an effort to stop using single use plastics such as straws and plastic bags.

"Take your own container when you get your sushi."

Benney hopes to do a clean up once a week. He is looking at State Highway 1 at the entrance to Springs Flat as his spot to target this week.