Christchurch launches new Kerbside Collection service

Christchurch City launches Australasia’s largest Kerbside Collection for domestic waste service on Monday (2 February) with the start of the new fortnightly recycling wheelie bin collection.

From Monday, the city will begin the fortnightly collection of the new recycling wheelie bin which has replaced the green recycling crate. With recycling becoming a fortnightly collection, week 1 bins will be collected next week and week 2 bins from 9 February. Residents need to check the week and collection day on the side of their new bin.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says Christchurch aims to be the most sustainable city in New Zealand, the new Kerbside Collection service is a big initiative aimed at moving the city towards zero waste.

“Our new three-bin system is forward-thinking and will help us protect our environment for today’s and future generations,” he says.

“Residents are being provided with a recycling, organics and rubbish collection service at their front gate. This makes it easy.”

He says residents need to remember their bin does not have to be full before they put it out for collection; simply put it out each fortnight with whatever volume of items they have for recycling. “This will ensure it remains easy to manage.”

Deliveries began on Monday of the two remaining wheelie bins – the new organics (food and garden waste) and rubbish bins – for the introduction of these services during March and April.

”We all need to take responsibility for the rubbish we create and ensure we seek sustainable ways to recycle or recover it for other uses. Christchurch’s new Kerbside Collection for domestic waste ensures as a city we are not only reducing but better managing our waste stream.”

Mr Parker says while the city’s goal is to reduce the amount of domestic waste to landfill by at least one third or 42,000 tonnes, it is only achievable if everyone plays their part in taking time to read the information supplied with each bin and making sure they use the new bins correctly.

“Contamination caused by residents failing to place the right items in the right bin, will result in truck loads of valuable recoverable and reusable material having to be sent to landfill. The cost of this to the city is high.”

He says the Love Christchurch; Love Your Rubbish campaign was designed to get residents to think differently about their rubbish. “We want our residents to love their rubbish so they stop, think and act responsibly when disposing of it.

“The success of this service rests with the residents who will ultimately reap the rewards for themselves, their children and grandchildren.

“It is not only about diverting waste from landfill but it also about returning the benefits back to the land through the new organics service and composting plant and ultimately to the Christchurch ratepayer,” Mr Parker says.