Rubbish woes for elderly resident (+video)

Rotorua retiree Paul Jacobsen is tired of having to call the council every week to have his new rubbish bins emptied, even after arranging help to do so.

Mr Jacobsen, 74, is 6ft 8in (2.03m) and has trouble with his balance, along with a pin in his hip, and knew when the Rotorua Lakes Council introduced its new rubbish and recycling service he was going to have problems moving bins down his 30m-40m long driveway on Sophia St.

So, he followed advice given to him by council staff to get a medical certificate and apply for the council's assisted collection service.

But, he said he has had to call the council every week but one because his bins weren't emptied. He said one was full of maggots and smelled "ripe".

Sophia St resident Paul Jabobsen has trouble moving his new rubbish bins. Photo/Ben Fraser

The council has apologised for the mistake and said Mr Jacobsen was one of 100 people in Rotorua to have applied for help to empty their bins and hopes it won't happen again.

"In December I got a doctor's certificate and applied for an exemption to get my rubbish picked up at my door by the contractor.

"I heard nothing from them, so in January I followed it up and the council sent two people to come and inspect my property.

"They agreed I could put bin liners in my bins so the contractor could come up my drive and just pull them out," he said.

"I can't lift them and struggle to move around anyway and it's impossible for me to get them to the street."

Mr Jacobsen wanted to let people know there was help available to people in his situation.

Sophia St resident Paul Jabobsen has trouble moving his new rubbish bins. Photo/Ben Fraser

Council transport and waste solutions director Stavros Michael said the council had called Mr Jacobsen to apologise and let him know it would follow up with him again on his collection day to ensure it didn't happen again.

Mr Michael said there were 100 residents on the assisted collection service in Rotorua.

"To apply, residents must fill out an application form and supply a medical certificate stating that they are not able to use the standard waste collection service," he said.

"Staff from council and Smart Environmental then arrange to meet with the resident at their property to assess whether an assisted collection service is feasible."

Council staff took into consideration factors such as property access and health and safety of collection truck drivers, Mr Michael said.