Wheelie bins

Council provides a wheelie bin service to all properties within particular boundaries, usually townships.

Bins are also available to people in rural areas on route to the townships, where practicable. The rural service is voluntary and will be provided when requested by the ratepayer.

All collection services are contracted out and the wheelie bins remain the property of the contractor, who is responsible for normal wear and tear. Northern Southland Transport Holdings currently holds these contracts.

The customer using the wheelie bin is responsible for providing reasonable security against damage or theft and keeping it clean and tidy. Wheelie bins are assigned to properties so if you move, the wheelie bin stays with the property.

If a bin is requested part way during the rating year you will be invoiced from the time the bin was delivered to 30 June the following year (end of financial year). If the bin is no longer required on the rural service it must be cancelled no later than one month before the end of the financial year.

If you are in a designated wheelie bin area, ie a township, you will already have a bin at your address. If you build a new property in a designated area you will be required to have a wheelie bin.

If you are on a rural route and wish to find out if you are eligible to be on the service, contact the Southland District Council on 0800 732 732. Please have your rapid number and road name (as on your rate notice) handy. It is also helpful if you know your property valuation number.

If you can be added to the collection service, the contractor will be notified and will have a bin delivered to you within two weeks.

What can I put in my bin?

You can put in:

Household refuse such as waste food, paper, packaging, empty containers, sweeping and cold ashes. Council is trying to encourage waste minimisation, so we encourage you to compost green waste, food scraps and paper at your property and to use the nearest recycling facilities. 

You can't put in:

• Any explosives, hot ashes, inflammable or infectious material.
• Any liquid, acid, printer ink, paint, oil, fuel or any viscous fluid.
• Any machinery or part thereof or any metal or other refuse which could damage collection or disposal equipment, including wire fencing.
• Any pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or other poisons.
• Any liquid effluent.
• Any offal or carcasses.
• Any medical needles or other skin piercing devices or any material contaminated with blood (which may contain infectious diseases) or body tissue.
• Any materials other than household, commercial and public building refuse, or trade refuse as described in Council’s Refuse Collection Bylaw.
• Any objects, which, because of their size, will prevent the wheelie bin lid from closing, and/or exceeding the wheelie bin weight limit of 60kg.

If any of the above are placed in bins and cause damage to the bin, you will be charged for the replacement cost of the bin.