No black bags will be collected

Nathan and Evan Murray picking up rubbish from the intersection of Ruaroa Road and SH1, south of Kaitaia. Bags that are not pre-paid will not be collected, and are inevitably ripped apart by dogs.

Northland Waste, which has the Far North District Council's waste and recycling contract in the north of the district, is once again reminding residents that only pre-paid rubbish bags or the contents of wheelie bins will be collected from the kerb.

Managing director Ray Lambert said the company, which took over the contract on October 1, was now the sole provider of kerbside rubbish and recycling collections in the area. It wanted to provide a great service, but could only accept rubbish in yellow Northland Waste bags, or the pink bags sold by the previous operator, Cleanstream Northland.

The yellow bags could be bought at dairies, supermarkets and service stations, while households and businesses that produced a lot of rubbish could hire wheelie bins from Northland Waste.

COLOUR CODE: Rubbish day in Kaitaia - only yellow bags will be collected.

"Rubbish disposal in the Far North District is a user-pays service, so we can only collect rubbish that is in an approved pre-paid bag or bin," Mr Lambert said.

The company was also committed to reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, and accepted plastics (numbered 1-6), cardboard, paper, glass, tin and aluminium for recycling. It would only collect them from the kerb if they were in a red Northland Waste recycling crate or green Cleanstream Northland crate. Rubbish bags should not be put out more than one day before collection day.

Those with lots of recyclables to get rid of could buy additional crates from Northland Waste, or take them to one of the 13 recycling centres Northland Waste operated on behalf of the council in the northern area (at Ahipara, Awanui, Broadwood, Herekino, Houhora, Kaitaia, Kohukohu, Panguru, Peria , Taipa, Te Kao, Totara North and Whatuwhiwhi).

"We will take small piles of cardboard or newspapers if they are flattened, tied and stacked next to crates, but all other recyclables must be inside crates," he added.

"This makes it easier, quicker and safer for our operators to collect recyclables, and is standard practice elsewhere in the district."

The council's infrastructure and asset management manager Jacqui Robson said staff were in regular contact with the company about the kerbside collection. Any questions should go to Northland Waste on (09) 408-2594, and the council would welcome feedback on 0800 920-029.