Wheelie-bin plan for Manukau to cut waste

Manukau City could follow Auckland City's lead by introducing wheelie rubbish bins. Photo / Dean Purcell

Rubbish bags could soon be out, with wheelie bins being planned for Manukau City.

Public submissions are now being accepted by the Manukau City Council, which has proposed to introduce wheelie rubbish bins in 2012.

The bins - which would replace plastic rubbish bags - have been outlined in the council's 10-year plan, in a bid to cut down on the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

Council manager for waste management Patricia Facenfield said the bins would continue moves by council to encourage recycling and better rubbish management among residents.

"The benefits will be in giving them an easier system - you don't have to go out and buy rubbish bags and there will be less chance for animals striking the bags and causing a mess," Mrs Facenfield said.

About 100,000 new recycling bins were last year distributed to Manukau City residents and have proved highly successful.

Council figures show that in the past nine months - since the new recycling service began in June - the volume of recycling has increased by 32 per cent, while the amount of waste ending up in landfills has fallen by 15.23 per cent.

"This is to follow from the recycling bins - it's getting people into the habit of sorting out their recyclables and having less waste to put in the rubbish bin," Mrs Facenfield said.

If the bins were introduced to Manukau City, Manukau residents would join those in Auckland City who use 120-litre wheelie rubbish bins, while those in North Shore and Waitakere use prepaid council rubbish bags.

The price of the bags goes towards the cost of the rubbish being collected and disposed of in landfills.

Mrs Facenfield said that although the size of the Manukau City rubbish bins was still being looked at, they were likely to be slightly larger than the Auckland City 120-litre bins. Various factors including there being larger-sized families in Manukau were among the reasons.

Asked whether there was a problem with planning for the bins when it was expected that the Super City scheme was to take over soon, Mrs Facenfield said it was still important to let Manukau residents' voices be heard.

"We still are, at present, the Manukau City Council - somebody's got to represent what the residents want for the future," she said.

"So when the Super City happens, Manukau has already had a say and they'll know what Manukau residents want."

Public submissions can be made at www.tellusyourmanukau.govt.nz.