New kerbside recycling service set to start mid-2008

Recycling will be easier for Auckland residents next year after confirmation of the city's new mobile recycling bin supplier and kerbside recycling collections contractor.

Auckland City Council Works and Services Committee chairperson, Councillor Neil Abel, said the new 240-litre recycling wheelie bins - to be rolled out in mid-2008 to coincide with the opening of the materials recovery facility - will be provided by Schaefer Systems International.

"The wheelie bins will replace the existing 45-litre blue recycling crates which have proven to be inadequate in size and containment," says Mr Abel.

"The new bins are much better all around. They will be picked up mechanically rather than manually to make collection safer for collection crews and the sturdy lids will also reduce wind-blown litter."

The recycling bin will have a light blue lid to set it apart from the red-lidded rubbish bin and will be collected fortnightly by the council's recently appointed kerbside collection contractor, Thiess Services.

The council's Environmental and Utility Management group manager, Michael McQuillan, said the contract was awarded to Thiess Services after an extremely competitive tender process.

"The council was extremely pleased with the standard of interest received. Seven experienced waste industry companies were vying for the contract, which has been awarded to Thiess Services - one of Australia's most versatile and innovative environmental and utilities contracting organisations," he says. "They work with many local government authorities throughout Australia and have a fantastic reputation so we are extremely pleased to have them working with us.

"Thiess Services will train up to 15 New Zealand drivers for this operation, which is good news for local jobs," says Mr McQuillan.

Mr Abel said the added benefits of the new system will be the reduced operational and environmental costs of the fortnightly collection service, and the fact that residents no longer need to separate their paper and cardboard from other recyclable material.

"Having one fortnightly recycling collection will mean fewer vehicle movements, compared to the current two vehicle weekly collection operation. This will make it more environmentally-friendly by reducing vehicle emissions."

"Residents will also be able to place plastic containers numbered one to seven, glass bottles, paper, cardboard and other recyclable material together inside their new wheelie bin as it will be sorted at the new state-of-the-art recycling facility in Onehunga."

The recycling facility will be the most technologically advanced in the southern hemisphere and capable of sorting up to 120,000 tonnes a year.

Along with the new, easier to use bins and fortnightly collection, residents will also receive a collection date calendar and an information brochure.

The council will be running a major public information campaign next year to make sure people are aware of the change and to encourage them to recycle and reduce their waste.

"The new recycling system will not be introduced until mid-2008 and the council will inform residents of the bin delivery and change to the service closer to the time. Until then, we urge residents to continue using the 45-litre blue crates and to separate their paper and cardboard from their glass bottles, plastic containers and steel cans as usual," Mr Abel said.

The new recycling service is a joint venture with Manukau City Council aimed at taking advantage of the economies of scale.

Key facts

Residents will begin using the new bins from August 2008. The actual start date is dependent on the opening of the materials recovery facility in Onehunga.
The facility will be the most technologically advanced in the southern hemisphere. It will use various screening techniques and optical sorting of glass into colours and plastic into grades, leading to much improved processing rates and reductions in product contamination.
The new mobile bins will allow more recycling with their increased capacity, 240- litres compared to the current 45-litre blue crates. They will also be collected fortnightly instead of weekly.
The closed bin lids will avoid major problems of wind-blown litter by containing paper and plastic.
Health and safety problems will be reduced because the collection won't involve runners on the street, travelling on vehicles and lifting heavy crates.
The new mobile recycling bins will take up roughly the same footpath space as the current crates, although they will be taller.
They should be easier and safer to move around than the current crates because the bin is wheeled rather than carried.
A public information campaign will be run before the new bins are introduced to make sure people are aware of the service changes and to encourage them to recycle and reduce their waste.