The Whakatāne District Council’s new ‘three strikes’ system to tackle bin contamination is now in effect, aiming to reduce the amount of recycling and greenwaste being sent to landfill and the costs that come with it.
Under the new approach, households with the wrong items in their recycling or greenwaste bin will receive a warning sticker and an educational flyer with tips on how to sort their waste correctly. There will be two warnings, giving residents a fair chance to improve. On the third occasion, a letter will be issued and the bin may be temporarily removed for three months.
“Our overall goal is to reduce contamination through a mix of education and consequences, so we can keep our recycling and greenwaste collections effective and sustainable,” says Solid Waste Manager Nigel Clarke. “Taking someone’s bin is a last resort and will only happen after repeated issues despite the support and warnings provided.”
On the third strike, only the offending bin, whether recycling or greenwaste, will be taken away - general waste bins will remain. There will be no deduction in rates due to the bin being removed.
The move follows a recent incident where 745 tonnes of greenwaste was sent to landfill due to high levels of contamination, costing ratepayers around $143,000 in disposal fees.
“Most households in the Whakatāne District are doing the right thing when it comes to sorting their waste, however, a small number are causing significant problems for the entire system. Just a few contaminated bins can undo the recycling and greenwaste efforts of the whole community.”
For more information on how to sort your bins correctly, visit the Three Strikes System page on our website.