Fortnightly Rubbish Collection Trial Subject To More Decisions

Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 9:00 pm
Article: Torika Tokalau - Local Democracy Reporter

Auckland Council's plans to trial a fortnightly rubbish collection next year awaits feedback from affected ratepayers and council decision making.

Councillors voted 14-4 last year for the trial, to gather data before considering a regional rollout in 2028.

Council's Waste Solutions general manager Justine Haves said the trial is still subject to a decision by councillors, and feedback from affected ratepayers.

"The council has not yet set a date for the commencement of the trial," Haves said.

She said if council consults on the trial before the end of the year, the feedback results will inform decision-making by elected members on whether the trial will go ahead.

The trial, aimed at reducing waste and carbon emissions as part of the council’s new Waste Management Plan, was one of three options presented to councillors last October.

According to discussion documents, the trial was to start in February 2026 for six months, after a consultation with affected households in October to November.

It would cost between $1.4 million to $1.7m, based on 10,000 households (covering two to three geographical areas of between 3000-4000 households).

Haves said council has not set a consultation period yet, and where the trial will take place.

"The council is still working through the area selection process.

"The council is considering demographics, existing services and appropriate scale, balancing these criteria against operational constraints as well as local impacts from other events, or changes in the area (as far as can be reasonably known, predicted or planned for)."

The trial would also determine its roll out to the rest of Auckland.

Haves said council would gather data to inform a decision on whether to move to a fortnightly rubbish collection on a permanent, region-wide basis.

"A roll out to the entire region would also be subject to further consultation and decision-making, including requiring a Long-Term Plan amendment.

"If it were approved, roll out to the entire region would be implemented at the earliest in 2028."

Manurewa-Papakura councillor Angela Dalton said the trial and roll out will go through more committees before decisions are made.

"If it does roll out permanently, it won't be till February 2028."

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