Thames Coromandel District Council Introduces New Kerbside Rubbish and Recycling Collections in September 2023

New Services and Collection Schedule

From 1st September 2023, Waste Management NZ Ltd will provide kerbside services as follows: 

• Food waste collection: Weekly collection of food waste in a 25-litre bin, with new bins provided. This is a new service aimed at diverting organic matter from landfills.
• Rubbish collection: Fortnightly collection of domestic rubbish in a 140-litre wheelie bin, replacing the current blue bags collection.
• Glass collection: Fortnightly collection of glass with a limit of two Council crates per household. This service will remain the same.
• Mixed recycling collection: Fortnightly collection of paper, cardboard, tins, and hard plastics (1, 2 & 5) in a 240-litre wheelie bin. This service will remain the same.
• Additional summer collections: Some areas will receive additional rubbish and recycling kerbside collections during the peak summer period. This service will remain the same.

Rubbish Bins to Replace Blue Bags

From 1 September 2023, the use of official, pre-paid blue plastic rubbish bags will be discontinued. Instead, a 140-litre wheelie bin will be provided for rubbish collection, similar to the recycling bins but slightly smaller in size.

Official Council blue rubbish bags will no longer be collected kerbside after 1 September. However, the Council's official blue bags will be accepted free of charge at the Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations until stocks run out.

Changes for Non-Kerbside Collection Users

For residents who do not receive a kerbside collection service but who currently purchase pre-paid Council blue rubbish bags, alternative options are available. They can choose to:

• buy a standard unofficial refuse 60-litre rubbish bags from a retailer and dispose of this at the Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations for $5 per bag (note this price may be subject to change)
• another option is to consult a private waste collection company for assistance.

Alternate Week Collection System

A new weekly and alternate week collection system, known as "red and yellow weeks," will be implemented. 

During a red week – the rubbish bin (which has a red lid) and food scraps bin will be collected.

During a yellow week –  the mixed recycling bin (with a yellow lid), glass crate, and food scraps bin will be collected.

Food scraps bin  – will be collected weekly.

Importance of Food Scraps Bin

A 2021 audit conducted on the Coromandel Peninsula revealed that organic matter constituted over 60 percent of the weight going to landfill, with kitchen food waste accounting for 86 percent of that organic material. To combat this issue, the TCDC aims to divert food scraps from landfills by providing the separate food scrap bin collection service. 

Many other Councils across New Zealand have also introduced or are planning to introduce food waste kerbside collection services.

Green Waste Disposal and Benefits of Wheelie Bins

While separate bins will be provided for rubbish, food waste, and recycling, green waste disposal remains unchanged. Residents will need to continue to take green waste to the Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations.

Council have stated that the introduction of separate wheelie bins for rubbish and food waste offers benefits including:

• Reducing reliance on plastic
• Preventing animals and birds from tearing open bags
• Providing safer handling for collection contractors as the automated arm of the collection truck means that contractors don’t need to manually handle the bins.

And, collecting food scraps separately allows for composting, returning valuable nutrients back to the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with landfill decomposition. 

How Waste Reduction Measures will be funded

Solid waste services will be funded through a targeted rate, the purchase of Pay As You Throw (PAYT) tags, gate fees and charges at the Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations, and external funding such as a percentage of the Waste Levy paid across the district.

To keep costs down, residents Council encourae the judicious use of PAYT tags – by minimising the amount of rubbish generated. Maximum utilisation of the food scraps bin, mixed recycling bin, and glass crate can significantly reduce waste sent to landfill. Additionally, residents can take advantage of other recycling options available, such as the soft plastics collection bins located around the Peninsula. 

The Council will monitor the correct use of bins and has implemented anti-copying watermarks on the PAYT tags to prevent fraudulent copying.

Bin Delivery and Refuse Transfer Stations

Bins will start being delivered to properties from the end of July and will be completed by the end of August 2023. A detailed schedule for the bin rollout will be communicated closer to the delivery dates. 

From 1st September 2023, all Refuse and Recycling Transfer Stations will operate standard hours seven days a week, including most public holidays. Some variations in operating hours will apply during daylight saving and on specific holidays.

For further information please visit the Thames Coromandel District Council website Rubbish and Recycling section.

Download the handy booklet below.