Businesses asked to take more care with rubbish
February 2, 2006

North Shore City Council is asking businesses to take more care when putting out their rubbish and recycling.

In some commercial areas, rubbish and recycling is being put out on the wrong day and left on the pavement, causing an obstruction and creating litter. The problem is most noticeable in Devonport, Birkenhead, Northcote and Glenfield.

Residents and businesses alike need to familiarise themselves with the collection timetable and stick to the rules, says the council's waste minimisation team leader, Bradley Nolan.

"We're getting a lot of complaints about this sort of thing. Bins and bags left on the pavement for days can be unsightly and unhygienic," he says. "The contents of the recycling bins can also be contaminated by passers-by."

Seven months ago North Shore City signed a new contract for its waste collection services, introducing fortnightly recycling collections for businesses and residents, using new mobile bins.

The current service for the city's commercial business districts also includes two collections for paper and cardboard, on Mondays and Wednesdays after 6pm; and three rubbish collections, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, after 6pm.

Businesses outside of the city's CBD have their paper and cardboard collected fortnightly on the same day as recycling, and regular rubbish three times per week, as with CBD businesses.

Householders' paper and cardboard is also collected on the same day as recycling, while regular rubbish is collected weekly.

"The recycling collections vary, according to the district and so businesses and residents both need to be aware when their next collection is and have their bins put out at the proper time," says Mr Nolan.

Business mobile recycling bins should be positioned on the kerb before 6am on the day of collection, except for Monday when the bins are collected after 6pm.

If businesses or residents are unsure of their collection timetable, they should refer to the council's website at www.northshorecity.govt.nz or phone Actionline on 486 8600, says Mr Nolan.

North Shore businesses who wish to participate in the council recycling collection should apply by contacting Actionline on 486 8600.

ENDS

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