West Auckland residents will have to purchase pre-paid tags for their rubbish bins in Auckland Council's new rubbish system. Photo / Auckland Council
West Auckland residents will have to purchase pre-paid tags for their rubbish bins in Auckland Council's new rubbish system. Photo / Auckland Council
A new tag rubbish system is due to be wheeled out in West Auckland in a few weeks that will see rubbish bags out and bins in.
Auckland Council is rolling out a service that will require residents to purchase pre-paid $3.80 tags to attach to existing blue bins to be put out for collection.
Like the long tags attached to luggage when travelling, the rubbish tags are linked through the handle of a bin. They are specially designed so if they are peeled off, they cannot be re-used.
When the rubbish truck arrives, a collector removes it before dumping that property's waste into the truck.
The new system is tipped to be more economical, as people only need to buy a tag for their bin once it is full.
One full bin is the equivalent to two orange bags, which would cost a total of $4.60 compared to the cheaper option in the tag.
Auckland Council's general manager of waste solutions, Parul Sood, said the change was not only about reducing the amount of rubbish bags used, but also to help prevent instances where a rubbish collector has been injured by items inside a bag while handling it.
"The other reason is also from our residents - we hear that the bags get attacked sometimes by animals. Then all your rubbish is out on the kerb. So we're moving away from that."
The standard pre-paid tags will cost $3.80 for 120L or 140L sized bins. People with larger bins will have to buy $5.50 tags.
Residents who will be affected in this first roll-out are in the Henderson-Massey and Waitakere Ranges local board areas, as well as those in the Whau and Upper Harbour region.
The suburbs include Massey East, Massey West, Te Atatu Peninsula, Te Atatu South, West Harbour, Henderson, Lincoln Rd, Swanson, Western Heights, McLaren Park, Glendene, Green Bay, New Lynn, Kelston, Hobsonville, Herald Island and Whenuapai.
Sood said they had been closely monitoring feedback from residents on social media.
Some had expressed concerns, including that it would take some households several weeks to fill up their standard 120L or 140L bins, which would therefore cause an odour.
As a result of that feedback, the Council was now looking at providing smaller 80L bins as well.
Residents were also encouraged to be smarter about their waste - making sure to recycle when they can and to compost food waste.
The tag system, which is already being trialled among some 200 households on the North Shore, is expected to roll out fully in the North Shore in March next year.
Unlike other parts of Auckland, where waste management was paid through rates, this allowed people to control their rubbish which also saved them money, Sood said.
"We wanted a bin service where you'd have the same flexibility as a bag, that you only pay for it when you put it out in the tag system."
People will be able to buy the rubbish tags from supermarket checkouts, dairies, petrol stations and other Auckland Council facilities and stations including libraries from September 15.
The sale of the current orange bags will stop that day also.
West Auckland residents will have to purchase pre-paid tags for their rubbish bins in Auckland Council's new rubbish system. Photo / Auckland Council
Q & A - NEED TO KNOW:
What is the new rubbish service? Instead of purchasing orange Council rubbish bags, West Auckland residents will now have to buy a $3.80 tag to be attached to their Council-issued blue and yellow bin to be put out for collection.
What if someone steals my tag? The tags have been specially designed so that it cannot be used again when it is peeled off. However, you can write your address on the tag for added security so collectors know the tag belongs to your house.
How long do I have to use up my orange rubbish bags? The Council is allowing people to use the current bags until March next year.
When will the tags go on sale? September 15 - the same day the sale of the orange rubbish bags will stop.
Do I have to place my rubbish inside a bag before putting it into the bin? No. You can put rubbish directly into the bin for collection.
Won't it smell? Rubbish bins should not smell or become messy if recycling items are put in the recycling bin, and food waste is put into compostable liners before being put into the rubbish bin. Composting may also be an option for food waste.
