Two bins for Southland ratepayers

Southland District Council ratepayers will move to a two-bin rubbish and recycling service in May next year.

At present all urban domestic ratepayers within a prescribed boundary have one bin for all their waste.

The current service is also available to rural ratepayers who can access designated pick-up routes on a voluntary basis.

In May two 240-litre bins will be provided - one for recycling and one for other waste, excluding green waste.

Council asset manager water and waste Ian Evans said Council agreed to award Bond Contracts the contract for kerbside collection service and the operation of the transfer stations, recycling drop-off centres and greenwaste sites at this month's APAC meeting.

Council also agreed to be part of the agreement between the Invercargill City Council and Southland Disability Enterprises for the procurement and operation of the Southland regional materials recovery facility.

These decisions follow several years of joint investigations with other Southland councils about the options for recycling and at ways of reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

In the 2011-2012 Annual Plan it was proposed to standardise the charge so both urban and rural properties using the service would pay the same amount and that cost is likely to be $236 a year excluding GST.

Staff are now working on establishing the urban boundaries and also setting out procedures and policies for how the new system will work.

Information on the two bins will be sent out to ratepayers within the next few months.

"Details on what can be recycled will be included in this information, but if anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Council water and waste team on 0800 732 732," Mr Evans said.