Media Release

15 July 2005

Business demand for new recycling bins exceeds expectations in Waitakere

Up to 50% of businesses want bins whereas only 25% used crates

More Waitakere businesses than expected are taking part in the recycling collection causing the Council to order 1500 more of the blue and yellow wheelie bins.

More than 50% of businesses want a mobile recycling bin for collection of “domestic” recycling, largely generated from employee snack and meal times. Only 25% used the much smaller crate service beforehand.

The Council says businesses have said they prefer the 140L mobile recycling bins over the 45L open-top crates because they are a lot tidier and safer to use.

The Council visited all businesses in May and June inviting them to take part in the new service.

The additional bins will be supplied by Onyx Group Ltd, the company contracted to collect recycling and rubbish from both Waitakere and North Shore cities, at no extra cost to the Council. In the interim Onyx will borrow bins from North Shore City, which have a surplus stored for an anticipated growth in the service. Waitakere’s surplus bins have already been distributed.

“We are obviously very pleased with the uptake of the recycling service,” says Waitakere City Councillor Janet Clews. “It’s terrific to see that businesses are taking the initiative to reduce what domestic waste they are sending to landfill. Every little bit like this counts.”

Waitakere and North Shore cities had anticipated that more than 15,000 tonnes of recycling (excluding paper and cardboard) would be collected every year from both regions as a result of the new service, and this figure was expected to increase by more than 200 tonnes per month within a year’s time.

ENDS

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