Rubbish bag price war for Auckland's North Shore

North Shore representative on the council, George Wood, said residents would welcome the council being more flexible in its offering. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A price war over rubbish bags is about to break out on Auckland's North Shore where Auckland Council will pitch its new orange pre paid collection bags against a private enterprise operator's yellow bags.

The council says it's price for the new official bag when it is introduced on November 1 will be $1.95 for a 60 litre bag and $1.50 for the 40 litre version.

Envirowaste's yellow bags sell at Countdown supermarkets for $1.95, as opposed to the council's current price of $2 for a 40 litre bag, bought as a single and $2.25 for a 60 litre.

The council promises a choice of 40 litre or 60 litre sizes which can be bought in bags of five.

Orange bags at that price and size range will also be issued for residents of Waitakere, Franklin and Papakura who presently use pre paid bags.

Waitakere's present grey bags cost $2.25 each, while Franklin's cost $2.20 and Papakura's $1.95.

North Shore representative on the council, George Wood, said residents would welcome the council being more flexible in its offering.

"The yellow bags have a pretty good hold on The Shore and the council is wanting to encourage people to come back to using the council bags, so it's a very competitive market here."

A pre paid bag collection is not offered in the former Auckland City Council area where residents have wheelie bins and pay for the council collection in their rates.

Household rubbish collection will not change for Auckland central, Rodney and the former Manukau City Council area, which pay through council rates.

Manukau does not have bins.

"Any old bag will do," said Manurewa Local Board chair Angela Dalton.

But the days of Manukau residents not having to buy pay according to the volume of rubbish put out were numbered, she said.

The council had advised it would progressively roll out user-pays refuse services between late 2017 through to 2018.

"Introducing user-pays will be challenging for a community that has a high percentage of low income families who rent their home."

A Waitakere representative on the council, Linda Cooper, said residents of both Waitakere and North Shore were getting a good deal with their pre paid bags under Auckland Council.

A long-term contract under the former city councils meant a Waitakere home paid no more for bag collection compared with the $230 to $240 a year being paid by central Auckland residents for a bin collection.

"But paying as we go has encouraged us to take more care about what we put in the bag and so by recycling we can aim to put out only one bag a week," said Mrs Cooper.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board member Jan O'Connor said she supported the council collection and, like many other North Shore residents she knew, diligently recycled and managed with one 40 litre bag a fortnight.