Misuse Leads to Rural Rubbish Collection Site's Closure

Continued misuse of a rural rubbish collection point near Oakura has led to its closure.

From 1 April the Koru Road rubbish collection point will be closed, with users directed to the Okato Transfer Station to dispose of their rubbish and recyclables.

“We’re giving people a month’s notice so they can make plans to change their disposal practices after 1 April,” says Manager Water and Wastes Brent Manning.

“The Council, the Kaitake Community Board and nearby residents have continually reminded people about how to use the site correctly. That advice appears not to have been heeded and the site has gradually deteriorated to become an unsightly place for up to seven days a week, which attracts vermin and poses health and safety risks.

“Unfortunately the best option now is to close this service.”

Kaitake Community Board Chairman Doug Hislop says the board supports the closure.

Residents along Koru and Main South roads within the refuse collection area will still be able to place a bag of refuse and bagged recyclables on the roadside at their front gate on collection day, as they pay for this service through their rates.

The Koru Road collection point is cleared once a week of household rubbish and recyclables, with refuse to be placed on the site only on the day before collection and up to 7am on collection day.

However contractors usually see new rubbish left on the site a few hours after collection, with rubbish building up on the following days.

A local resident has tried to keep the site as tidy as possible and has spoken directly with some users who deposit rubbish outside of the stipulated times, only to be verbally abused.

“We can’t expect a member of the public to go out day after day to clean up other people’s rubbish, and we can’t keep adding to the costs of the refuse collection service by cleaning up the site more than once a week,” says Mr Manning.
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“It’s a pity that we have to stop this service because a minority of people refused to play by the rules.”

Similar problems are being seen at the Otaraoa Road/Inland North Road rubbish collection point in Tikorangi, which may also close if the situation does not improve.