Wheelie bins and cyclones don't mix

We don't recommend putting your wheelie bins out during a cyclone.

This might seem overly obvious, but this time last year there were many for whom it wasn't and the wind huffed and puffed and blew the wheelie bins down hills, along streets and into all kinds of unhelpful places.

Some with Monday collections have a habit of putting their bins out on Sunday night. With Cyclone Pam expected to be battering the Coromandel and the plains from 7pm tonight to 7pm Monday, we recommend you put your bin somewhere secure if you are in an area usually affected by wind. The same goes for glass crates. It might be fine when they are full, but once emptied, they are easily picked up by gale force winds and become missiles that could smash into your neigbours' windows or worse.

We are still sending our contractors out first thing tomorrow morning, but if you think there's a chance your bin and emptied crates could be blown away, it would be best if you hold them back for a fortnight.

Remember too, you can always take recycling to one of our refuse transfer stations after the storm has passed, and we'll accept it absolutely free.

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