Rubbish collection changes confirmed

Northland Waste has confirmed new details for collections after taking over the Far North District Council contract for rural transfer stations and kerbside collection in the Kaitaia region.

Far North District Council awarded the five-year contract for $4,615,449 - an estimated saving for ratepayers of $2 million.

The contract had been held for 24 years by Kaitaia social enterprise CBEC (Community, Business and Environment Centre) and later by Cleanstream, a partnership between CBEC and Te Rarawa.

Northland Waste manager Darryn Shanks said he is "ecstatic to be delivering some $2 million dollars in savings to the region while also improving the services".

"We have investments of well over $1 million in specialist recycling collection and processing plant and are currently the largest recycler in Northland - handling nearly 20,000 tonnes of recovered material each year we are excited about the additional recycling potential this contract offers," Mr Shanks said.

Northland Waste is a New Zealand-owned Northland business, operating from Whangarei with branches in Warkworth, Kerikeri and Kaitaia currently employing 150 local staff across this region.

Northland Waste will offer a kerbside recycling collection through a 60-litre crate service; the recycling crates will be available from September 1 with the first week of collection starting September 7. To order a crate, call (09) 408 2594.

Current CBEC crate customers will continue with recycling bags being collected in an arrangement with Clean Stream Northland and Northland Waste while stocks last.

Northland Waste is also working through further ideas to increase recycling in the region.

Clean Stream and Northland Waste will work together over the transition period. Those in a Rural area serviced solely by Clean Stream at present can use yellow or pink bags .

Across the region, pink bags will continue to be collected in an arrangement with Clean Stream and Northland Waste while stocks last.

From September 28 this collection will be taken up by Northland Waste on the days noted in the accompanying panel.

Yellow Northland Waste Hospice bags will continue to be available through local outlets, Mr Shand said: "Long-term support of the community group will remain and the many other groups we are proud to be associated with," he said.

Northland Waste also offers an enviro-friendly option which reduces the plastic going to landfill by replacing plastic bag with an easy to manage, rodent/animal resistant kerbside bin as an alternate option to bags.

Staff currently employed by Clean Stream (CBEC) for the transfer station and recycling activities will be offered ongoing employment.

"We are excited to have the experience and knowledge of these locals moving forward with us to serve the Far North community," Mr Shanks said.

Collection areas will not change, however collection days will.

Council's acting chief executive Colin Dale said the contract was awarded after a competitive bidding process. He said council officers will be working with both Cleanstream and Northland Waste Ltd to ensure a seamless transition of services when the contract changes.

"It is also encouraging that Northland Waste Ltd has indicated that it will be seeking to take on staff currently working with Cleanstream to minimise the potential for job losses," Mr Dale said.