New Recycling/Rubbish Service for Southland District Council - Frequently Asked Questions

Southland District Council is changing the way it collects our recycling and rubbish.

From the 2nd May 2011 recycling will be collected in wheelie bins, with rubbish collected in a second bin. Existing transfer stations and recycling centres will also remain open.

• Why is the Council introducing a new collection service?

The existing collection contract expires in 2010 and cannot be renewed.

The Southland District Council is committed to helping protect the environment, and minimising the amount of waste disposed to landfill is one way we can make a real difference.

This will be achieved through the collection of recyclables using new recycling bins and by utilising the existing facilities provided at Transfer Stations and drop off facilities at the Recycling Centres.

• How is the Council changing the recycling and rubbish collection service?

All ratepayers who must, or elect to receive the service will receive a 240 litre yellow lidded bin for collection of recyclables i.e. plastic, paper, cardboard, tins and cans and a second 240 litre red lidded bin for residual rubbish.

• How often will the bins be emptied?

Recycling bins and rubbish bins will be collected fortnightly on alternate weeks. For example in week 1 recycle bins will be emptied and in week 2 rubbish bins will be emptied.

Remember to place your recyclables and rubbish out for collection by 7.00 am on your allocated collection day.

• Who is entitled to the new recycling and rubbish collection service?

All existing residentially rated properties in urban townships that pay the 'rubbish and recycling' charge as part of their annual rates will receive the new service, along with any other ratepayer within the Southland District who elects to have the service and who can get their bins to a designated collection route on designated collection days.

• When will I get my new bins?

The new bins are expected to be delivered to participating properties from early April 2011. More information will be provided closer to the time as to more specific delivery times.

• How will I know which recycling bin and rubbish bin is mine?

Each bin has an individual serial number stamped into it and an address sticker to help residents identify their bins.

• When will the new recycling and rubbish collection service start?

Collections will begin in the week commencing 2 May 2011 in all areas. Your current refuse collection service will continue up until 2nd May.

Please do not place your new recycling bin or new rubbish bin out for collection prior to 2nd May as they will not be collected.

• How will I know when to put my recycling bin or rubbish bin out for collection?

An information pack will be delivered with the new bins. The information pack contains everything you need to know about the new service.

• How much is the new service going to cost me?

At present the estimated cost is $231, plus GST, however the more people who elect to take the service then the lower the cost to the individual ratepayers. This is the reason for offering the service to all ratepayers within the Southland District.

This pays for:

- New recycling and rubbish bins;
- Recycling collection;
- Recycling processing;
- Rubbish collection and disposal;
- Administration costs.

• Can I have a smaller recycling and/or rubbish bin instead of a 240 litre bin?

Yes. There are a limited number of smaller 140 litre bins available. If you feel that 240 litre bins will be too difficult to manage or will be too difficult to store please contact Southland District Council on 0800 732 732 to see if you are eligible for a smaller bin.

Please note that the cost of this service will be the same as for the 240 litre bins and there will be an additional cost for swapping over if you later find the smaller bins are unsuitable.

• What about Commercial Businesses or non-residentially rated properties?

Commercial and non-residential properties will be offered a choice to join the service (it is not compulsory to do so). Non-compulsory properties that do sign up for the service are required to sign up for a minimum 1 year period.

• Will my collection day change?

Where possible collection days will stay the same, however there may be changes to optimise vehicle routes.

• Could I have more bins than the standard service?

Yes.

The minimum service provided to ratepayers will be 1 rubbish bin and 1 recycle bin. For an extra cost ratepayers can choose to receive additional rubbish and/or recycle bins.

For example a person could elect to have the minimum service of 1 rubbish and 1 recycle bin but additionally take another recycle bin (additional cost will apply where additional bins are requested).

• Could I use liners/bags in any of my bins?

Rubbish Bin - Yes. Any sort of liner or bag could be placed in this bin.

Recycle Bin - No. The only type of bags that could be placed in the recycle bin is empty plastic supermarket bags for recycling. Your recycling bin shouldn't get "dirty" as only clean recyclables are accepted for recycling.

• How would I know what goes in which bin?

Each bin would be clearly labelled detailing what can and cannot go into the bin. And an information package would be provided on bin delivery.

• How big would the recycle bin be?

The proposed standard service provides eligible properties with a 240 litre bin emptied fortnightly, for the disposal of recycling. A limited number of smaller bins are available for the elderly or people with a disability if they did not want the standard service.

• When would the recycling bin be emptied?

Fortnightly.

• What goes in the recycle bin?

The recycle bin is for the disposal of paper, cardboard, all plastics (excluding polystyrene and toys), aluminium cans/pots/utensils, tin and steel cans, grain/coal bags, plastic bags, glass bottles and jars.

More detailed list:

newspapers and magazines, rinsed food tins, glass jars and bottles, cereal boxes, cardboard packaging, telephone directories, hard covered books, envelopes and junk mail, yoghurt pottles, ice cream containers, cardboard, egg cartons, shampoo and conditioner plastic bottles, water plastic bottles, plastic pottles, aerosol cans, plastic milk and soda bottles, aluminium cans, laundry plastic bottles, plastic cups, plastic bags, foil trays, aluminium pots and pans and utensils, steel cans, grain/coal bags, 20 litre plastic containers.

A full list of what can and cannot be recycled will be included within further information updates.

• Could I put Styrofoam meat trays in the recycle bin?

No. Styrofoam meat trays would need to go out in the rubbish bin.

• Could I put polystyrene in the recycle bin?

Yes.

• If the recycle bins only get emptied fortnightly - won't it get smelly?

No. The recycle bin is for the disposal of clean and non-organic material therefore there should be no odours.

• Would I have to tie up or bag paper and cardboard?

No. You would simply place recycling loose in the recycle bin.

• What happens to the recycling?

Recycling would be delivered to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) operated by Southland disAbility Enterprises Inc (formerly Southland Enterprises Inc). At the MRF the material is further sorted, baled and delivered to various national and international manufacturers who process the material into new products.

Revenue from the sale of recycled material helps to reduce the cost of the new service.

• How big would the rubbish bin be?

The proposed standard service provides eligible properties with a 240 litre bin emptied fortnightly, for the disposal of rubbish.

There would be other bin options available for the elderly or people with a disability if they did not want the standard service.

• When would the rubbish bin be collected?

Fortnightly.

• Why a fortnightly collection?

The majority of your household rubbish is organic or recyclable. By removing recyclables from the waste stream a smaller quantity of rubbish would be left over to be disposed of to landfill.

• If the rubbish bin only gets collected fortnightly - won't it get smelly?

There is a small risk that occurs especially in warmer weather. However other authorities in New Zealand that have moved to fortnightly collections have not highlighted this as a significant issue, provided that the bin is in good condition and the lid remains closed.

In addition a number of other things can be done to reduce the risk, such as storing in a cool shaded place such as a garage or shed, place food scraps, nappies etc in bags and tie firmly prior to putting in the bin, use of deodorising spray when lid is opened. Consider composting your organic wastes instead of putting them in the bin.

• What goes in the rubbish bin?

Only items other than what cannot be recycled can be put in the rubbish bin.

• What could not go in the rubbish bin?

The following items cannot be disposed of in the residual waste bin:

- garden waste
- explosives, hot ashes or flammable material
- liquid including paints and acids
- sharp object that could puncture the bin
- any hazardous, toxic or radioactive waste
- building or construction materials
- any used oil, lead acid batteries, refrigerators/freezers
- trade waste

These items also cannot go into the existing bin.

• Can I put ashes in the rubbish bin?

Yes. You can put ashes in the rubbish bin providing they are cold and bagged prior to disposal. Hot ashes may cause your bin to catch fire.

• What happens to the rubbish?

Rubbish is delivered to the Waste Transfer Station where it is compacted into large transport containers and delivered to the Southland Landfill for final disposal.

• I only visit my holiday home periodically and won't get the value for service.

The extent to which individual ratepayers use services provided by Council is an important consideration when looking to introduce new services such as recycling/rubbish, as is the overall benefit for providing consistent access to services across the district. Unfortunately practical and effective options do no exist to base the charge to individual customers on the extent to which they use the service.

Council is aware that holiday home owners sometimes rely on neighbours to put their bins out or bring them back in again. There is no reason why such arrangements could or would not have to change.

• What will happen to my current bin?

The existing bins are owned by the current contractor and will be removed at the end of the contract. The exact details of the removals process has yet to be finalised but will be publicised at a later date.

• Why is the service different in Invercargill than it is for Southland District?

The alternate week collection service provides reduced costs for Southland ratepayers. As the trucks that collect recycling in week 1 are cleaned and used in week 2 for the rubbish (only have to purchase one set of trucks).

Southland District Council is committed to helping protect the environment and minimise the amount of waste disposed to landfill. The provision of fortnightly recycling and rubbish service encourages residents to reduce their waste.

• Can I put garden waste or greenwaste in my rubbish bin?

No. Greenwaste or garden waste cannot be put in the rubbish bin as it is not allowed to be disposed off at the regional landfill.

• What can I do with my greenwaste if I don't put it in the rubbish bin?

Greenwaste can be composted. For more information on how to compost visit www.wastenet.org.nz

Alternatively it is accepted at Council's Transfer Station and Greenwaste only sites where it is mulched and given away.

Disposal of greenwaste at Riversdale and Wallacetown disposal sites and at all transfer stations is free for carloads and $12 for utes and trailers. The disposal charge covers the cost of treating the waste once sufficient quantities have been stockpiled. In terms of treatment the waste is shredded and left to naturally compost. It is also available for people to take away free of charge.

• Would I have to put out two bins each week?

No.

Only 1 bin will be put out each week, for example, on the first week the recycling bin will go out and on the following week the rubbish bin will be put out.

• What happens is I don't get an information pack with my bins?

Contact Council on 0800 732 732 for a replacement information pack to be sent out.

• I didn't get a bin and it is after 2 May 2011.

If you didn't receive your new bins by the beginning of May please contact Council on 0800 732 732 so that arrangements can be made to get the bins to you at the earliest opportunity.

• I am blind or visually impaired, how do I tell which bin to use for recycling and rubbish?

Each of the wheelie bins would be marked with a different raised tactile symbol which people can feel to distinguish between the bins.

• I operate a motel. How many bins do I get? Where do all the bins go?

Council would meet with property owners and managers and discuss alternative options for servicing the property i.e. centralised set of bins, increased collection frequency, larger bins etc.

• When does the new service start?

The new service will start on the week commencing Monday 2nd May 2011. Please continue to use you existing bin until this date.

• My bin was damaged when delivered.

Report it to Council on 0800 732 732 and arrangements will be made for the damaged bin to be repaired or replaced.

• How much does my wheelie bin cost at the moment and what will the difference be when the new service starts?

Ratepayers in urban areas currently pay $182 plus GST for the service, those in rural areas are currently paying $224 plus GST for the service. As part of the new contract it is proposed to standardise costs across the district. Current indications are that the rate for the new service is likely to be approximately $236 plus GST however the more people who take up the service the less the cost is likely to be per individual ratepayer.

• If I choose not to take the new service can I still keep the old service?

No - the current contract will have expired and the new contract provides a minimum service of 1 rubbish bin and 1 recycling bin. If you choose not to take the new service you will have to make alternative arrangements for your waste disposal.

• What happens to my recycling once it leaves Southland Enterprises?

Everything that leaves SDEI will have a use - none will end up in the landfill site. Some of the recyclables will be dealt with in New Zealand while others will be best dealt with overseas.

Paper and cardboard - recycled in NZ - turned back into paper and card.

Plastics - some is recycled in NZ while the rest is shipped overseas where it is recycled into new plastic containers or can be converted back to an oil based product for reuse.

Glass - currently exploring options for recycling of glass. Current favoured option for recycling glass is to crush it to a fine sand product and recycle to a number of outlets that can be used as infill on roads, filter materials in swimming pools etc. None will end up in the landfill site.

• What do the different coloured forms I have received mean and what do I need to return?

Anyone who receives a form is asked to return it indicating if they wish to receive the new service.

We are sending out four forms which give us an indication of which service ratepayers receive.

The first one is for urban compulsory, that is all ratepayers in an urban boundary that own a private dwelling. This one is just a letter sent - there is no option and the service must be taken - therefore just a letter was sent.

The second one is for the urban commercial ratepayers in the urban boundary that own a commercial property which may already have the service or might like to take up the option of the new service. These ratepayers are given the option of saying yes or no to the new service. A blue form is attached and must be returned. If the ratepayer does not respond it is deemed as an acceptance if they already have the existing service.

The third letter is for the rural ratepayers with the service and they are given the option of continuing or not on the green return form. If the ratepayer does not respond it is deemed as an acceptance.

The fourth letter is for rural ratepayers within 3km of the existing route. This group are given a map showing the existing collection route and they are given the option of taking up the service. They are also asked to complete the white form.

All reply forms are prepaid.

• Want more information?

For more information on waste management and recycling services in Southland, contact Council's Water and Waste Department on 0800 732 732 or visit www.wastenet.org.nz