Auckland City Council
Media release

28 June 2008

Recycling bin detectives check for rubbish

Recycling "detectives" will be making sure no rubbish or bagged recyclables are placed in Auckland's new blue-lidded recycling wheelie bins when the new fortnightly recycling service starts on 30 June.

The larger 240-litre recycling bins, which are replacing the current blue recycling crates, will allow people to put a wider range of recyclable material in the same bin, including paper and cardboard, plastic containers numbered 1 to 7, glass jars and bottles, and steel and aluminium cans. The aim of the new service is to make it easier for Auckland residents to recycle more. The volume of recycling is expected to increase by between 15 and 25 per cent as a result.

Residents accustomed to putting out newspapers or other recycling in plastic bags are reminded they do not need to do this when the new collection service starts. All paper and cardboard and other recyclables should be placed, loose, directly into the recycling wheelie bin.

Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, chairperson of the City Development Committee, says the blue-lidded wheelie bins are for recycling only and that rubbish, plastic bags, food scraps and garden waste should not be put in them.

"Auckland's new blue-lidded recycling bins will be collected for the first time next week, marking a new era in the city's recycling collections," says Mr Lotu-Iiga.

"It's important that people familiarise themselves with what can and can't be recycled to avoid contamination. We are asking residents to make small changes to the way they have been recycling, and our recycling detectives will help them by notifying households if any incorrect items have been put in the new recycling bin."

From the start of the new service, a team of "detectives" will work ahead of the collection trucks checking the contents of the recycling wheelie bins. If they discover large amounts of rubbish, bagged recyclables or non-recyclable items, the bin will be sealed and a written notification left with the resident. The bin will not be emptied until it contains only loose recyclable materials.

Where minor quantities of non-recyclable materials are found in the bin, residents will be left a reminder about what can and cannot go in the recycling wheelie bins.

"The Materials Recovery Facility, which will sort the recycling, will remove items that can't be recycled. However, if rubbish is left in the recycling then the load will be contaminated, making it unsuitable to recycle, so it is important that we ensure rubbish or things that can't be recycled aren't put in the recycling bins in the first place."

Approximately 150,000 blue-lidded recycling bins have been delivered across the city. Residents should check the recycling collection calendar delivered with the bin or go to www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/recycling to make sure they know which fortnight their recycling will be collected.

ENDS

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