KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's new kerbside recycling scheme is in operation, but it has not been without its teething problems.
Some residents complained they put their new blue-top bins out on June 30, but had to wait a week for them to be picked up.
The Auckland City Council said some of the recycling timetables meant for residents in the east of the city were delivered to those in the west and vice versa, meaning many were confused about the correct dates.
One resident, Earle Williamson of Epsom, said the introduction of the service was "very badly done".
"When a whole road gets the wrong calendar, there's something wrong."
The chairman of the council's city development committee, Peseta Sam Lotu-liga, said residents who received the wrong calendar could contact the council call centre or verify their recycling collection week and day on the council's website.
Other residents said the 240-litre bins were too big to move on to the street, but retailers say the bins are not big enough to take the amount of cardboard they put out each week.
Mr Lotu-liga said extra bins could be hired for $60 a year and smaller 120-litre bins would be available on request from the end of next month.
"Bins can be put out every two weeks quarter-full, half-full, or with one clean empty can of spaghetti."
The scheme had otherwise started well, Mr Lotu-Liga said.
"We have had a very high level of understanding about and compliance with the use of the new recycling bins.
"What the materials recovery facility in Onehunga is receiving is extremely clean. This means practically no non-recyclable materials are found when bins are emptied."
The council is expecting a 15 to 25 per cent increase in recycling volumes.
"With the overwhelmingly positive response the public has shown and the large volumes of clean recyclables collected, we would expect to see evidence of this increase within the initiative's first year," Mr Lotu-liga said.
"Next year's city-wide waste audit should provide more specific figures."
COLLECTION RULES
* Recycling collections have changed from weekly to fortnightly in Auckland City and Manukau.
* Put all recyclables in the new bin, including paper and cardboard.
* Plastic bags and food scraps must not go in recycling bin as it is possible to contaminate a whole truckload of recyclable material.
* Don't pack it too full. If the lid doesn't close it might not be collected.
* Put bin on kerbside for collection away from rubbish bin. It needs to be accessible to arms of recycling truck.
* Put the bin out by 7am.
* To find out collection week, phone (09) 379-2928, or check it online at www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/recycling.
* Smaller bins are available on request. Half-size bins will be available at the end of next month.
* Need an extra bin? The council is offering extra recycling bins for a yearly cost of $60 each.
