Wheelie bins planned for rubbish collection

Manukau City Council is planning to introduce wheelie bins for residents to put their rubbish in.

The council’s 10 year plan proposes the rubbish bins will be introduced in 2012 to replace the plastic bags now used for household rubbish collections. Public feedback is wanted on the proposed new rubbish bins as part of consultation on the Long Term Council Community Plan 2009 -2019. A rates increase of 3.8 per cent is proposed for each of the ten years of the plan.

Manukau City Council Environment and City Form Portfolio Leader Sharon Stewart says the rubbish wheelie bins are part of a plan to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

“Having bins instead of plastic bags will make it easier and cleaner to get rid of rubbish. The bins, which have been used for some time in the Auckland City Council area, would be easy to wheel to the gate and be stored cleanly between collection days.

“Another big advantage is that it will be safer for the contractors collecting the rubbish. The bags can be cut open by rubbish inside them or by stray animals getting into them before they’re collected.

“The rubbish bins are the next stage in Manukau’s plan to make it easier for residents to deal with their waste. They follow the incredibly successful introduction of recycling wheelie bins in June last year,” Cr Stewart says.

The public can make submissions quickly and easily on line at www.tellusyourmanukau.govt.nz, or by using the form included in the summary sent out to all Manukau letter-boxes. Submissions close on 6 May.