Recycling Survey for Inner City Areas

Dunedin (Tuesday, 16 September 2014) – The Dunedin City Council is investigating the demand for a recycling collection service in the central city, including the Warehouse Precinct, and in the South Dunedin shopping centre.

DCC Waste Strategy Officer Catherine Irvine says staff are receiving an increasing number of enquiries about providing a recycling service in these areas. As a first step in investigating the potential for a DCC recycling collection service to be introduced, residents and business/property owners in the areas are being surveyed to assess the level of demand.

In terms of waste and recycling services, the central business district and the South Dunedin shopping centre currently receive a DCC-provided nightly refuse bag collection service using DCC black bags and a commercial operator provides a twice-weekly, free cardboard collection service.

Ms Irvine says there is scope to improve the recycling service by broadening the range of recyclable materials collected. This would include rigid plastic containers 1 – 7, aluminium cans, steel tins, paper and cardboard. If these items were collected, it would bring the service into line with the service residents and small businesses in urban areas currently receive.

Surveying people who live, work and own property in the CBD and South Dunedin shopping centre will provide information about current recycling practices and feedback on the level of support for a DCC-run collection service.

Surveys are being distributed by post and by hand around buildings within those areas this week, or the survey can be filled in online at www.dccrecyclingcbd.org.nz. Survey responses need to be returned or received by Friday, 3 October.

Ms Irvine says, “We are really keen to hear from people to see if this is a project they would support.”

People can also discuss this project with staff at drop-in sessions. The sessions are:
• Tuesday 23 September, 12 noon – 2pm, Dunningham Suite, 4th floor, Dunedin City Library
• Tuesday 23 September, 4.30pm – 6pm, Taste Nature, High Street
• Thursday 25 September, 5.30pm – 7.30pm, Dunningham Suite, 4th floor, Dunedin City Library

Once the surveys have been analysed, a staff report will be presented to the DCC’s Infrastructure Services Committee on 25 November. Ms Irvine says the aim is to have issues and options for a recycling collection service in these areas for consideration as part of the Long Term Plan process.

Ms Irvine emphasised the project was at an early stage. The survey feedback would help staff design the next stage, which would include what the collection system might look like and how it might be paid for.

For more information on the project, visit www.dunedin.govt.nz/cbd-recycling-survey.

ENDS

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