Simple Way to Ensure a Clean NZ.

Clean Up New Zealand week starts tomorrow and Franklin District Council is reminding residents of a simple way to help the streets stay clean - take a minute to sort and secure recycling. If not secured paper, plastic bottles and tin cans may blow out of recycling bins before collection and end up all around the neighbourhood.


“A street can look really great after a group has litter-picked and to then see it covered in plastic and paper again after the collection day is so disheartening. We can’t ensure perfect weather with no wind every collection day, but we can assure you that a little bit of preparation before the recycle bin hits the kerb will pay off,” says Franklin District Council’s Solid Waste Manager, Nigel Birse.


The key tips are simple:


All paper and cardboard should be tied, taped, or put in a bag or box beside your recycle bin. This will stop loose paper from blowing out of the bin.
Put lids inside of tins and squash them before putting them in the recycling bin. This stops them rolling down the street if they happen to escape the recycle bin.
Squash plastic bottles.
Bring glass bottles and jars to the top of the bin. Glass is heavy enough that it does not blow out of the bins.


“It’s amazing how many times we see bins overflowing with airy milk bottles on the top, yet weighted down with glass bottles in the bottom. Bring the glass to the top and you won’t lose those light plastic bottles to the wind,” says Nigel.


Big households and keen recyclers may say that this advice is all well and good but their bins are going to be overflowing no matter how much sorting and squashing they do.


“Help is at hand,” says Nigel, “you can have up to three recycling bins collected from your residence for no extra collection fee. All you need to do in contact Council on 09 237 1300. Each bin costs $12 and then it’s yours. If you think even three isn’t enough just call us, we will be able to work something out for you.”


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