Media Release

18 March 2008

Major recycling collection changes announced

Major changes to Manukau’s recycling collection will make a big contribution to New Zealand’s efforts to reduce waste, Mayor Len Brown says.

Manukau City Council is introducing a new recycling service that will begin on 30 June. Residents will get a recycling wheelie bin that has more than four times extra space for recycling than their current green crate.

The delivery of approximately 100,000 new 240 litre recycling wheelie bins begins in Howick on 14 April. Deliveries will continue across the city until mid-June.

Residents are asked not to use their new recycling wheelie bin until 30 June or after depending on their collection day.  A calendar showing new recycling and rubbish collection days will be delivered with the bin so residents know when to put it out.

Auckland City Council is also introducing the new wheelie bins for recycling. Both cities’ recycling will be sorted at a new facility in Onehunga that will be the most technologically advanced in the southern hemisphere.

“Manukau and Auckland have almost 20 per cent of the country’s population, so this is a significant step for recycling in New Zealand. With our residents recycling more, we will make a major contribution to the country’s efforts to reduce waste,” Mr Brown says.

“The aim of the new service is to make it easier for people to recycle more. We expect recycling volumes to increase by 15 to 25 per cent.

“Our increased focus on recycling and environmental sustainability is being driven by Manukau’s young people. It is one of the top concerns they raise with me,” Mr Brown says.

“We’ll be working closely with schools to promote recycling. Some new recycling wheelie bins are available free for every school in Manukau. It is children who go home and encourage their parents to recycle as much as possible.

“Part of the reason for introducing the new bins is to stop paper and plastic blowing around the streets on recycling day. This is part of our focus on a clean, tidy and proud Manukau,” Mr Brown says.

When the new collection begins people will be able to put a wider range of recycling into one bin. Paper and cardboard can be put in the new bins instead of being left in a pile on the side of the road.

The bins will also take the same range of recycling as the current crates – plastic containers and bottles from the kitchen and bathroom numbered 1 to 7, glass jars and bottles, tins and cans.

The recycling will be sorted at a new state of the art facility in Onehunga, which will be the most technologically advanced in the southern hemisphere and capable of sorting up to 120,000 tonnes a year.  

ENDS

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