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New recycling system is a first for NZ |
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New recycling system is a first for NZ
04 March 2006
By CLAIRE HAREN - Timaru Herald
When the Timaru District Council rolls out its new three-bin recycling system in July it will make history in New Zealand.
Timaru is the first council in the country to introduce a three-bin system, although other councils are now moving towards it. Christchurch City, with its kerbside crate collection, is considering a move to bins. A crate may hold about one to two kilograms of recyclable materials, while a bin can yield about five kilograms.
The three-bin system will be introduced in Timaru, Temuka, Geraldine, Pleasant Point, Cave, Pareora and Winchester.
Rural residents who live in routes where the system will be available, will have the option of taking it up.
But there is a lot to do before homeowners around the district take delivery of their new bins.
One of the biggest challenges the council faces is getting the community on board, and weaning people off their 16-year love affair with the all-encompassing Otto bin.
It's the last council in Canterbury to introduce some form of recycling system, but the system and the technology involved will be leading-edge.
There's $75,000 in this year's budget for education associated with the introduction of the new system.
That's going to include a comprehensive manual – delivered with the new bins – outlining how to use the system. It will include a calendar to remind people when to put their bins out for collection.
With no other New Zealand council operating such a system, Timaru is drawing on advice and information from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
A hotline system will be put in place to answer questions and deal with concerns about the new system.
The council isn't expecting everyone will get it right first time, but ultimately, expects the system should see 80 per cent of waste diverted from the landfill.
It's hoped to get community buy-in and involvement – showing how much waste is being diverted from the landfill, rewarding consistently good recyclers, and reporting on where recyclable materials have gone.
The basic system sees each household allocated three wheelie bins. The first 240 litre bin – the same size as the existing wheelie bin – is for compostable waste – lawn clippings, garden rubbish, food scraps. It will be emptied each week.
The second 240 litre bin is for recyclable materials – newspaper, cardboard, plastics, glass, aluminium and tin.
The third bin, a smaller 140 litre model, is for "rubbish".
The recycling and rubbish bins will go out on alternate weeks, so each week, two bins will go out for collection.
The council knows the three-bin system won't suit everyone. A trial of the system, in 2005, resulted in 87 per cent approval.
By the same token, the current wheelie bins didn't suit everyone – there are about 500 of the smaller bins, and still some rubbish bags in use in Timaru.
The council is working with the 13 per cent of the triallists who said the three-bin system didn't suit – those groups that will have particular requirements.
Those include businesses in the CBD, schools and pensioner flats.
The 1100 residents in the district who already have two wheelie bins will also be consulted about their requirements.
The roll-out of bins is scheduled to begin late May, and continue through June.
It's likely to tie in with the current collection system – people will put their existing bin out on collection day, it will be emptied, taken away, and the new bins delivered in its place.
The old bins will be either shredded and recycled if they're at the end of their useful life.
Newer bins will be steam-cleaned and stored to be used as replacements or for parts.
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