However, there is no word yet on the likely impact of so many smaller wheelie bins on the Dunedin City Council's bottom line.
That is despite earlier fears a larger-than-expected uptake of smaller bins could reduce the amount of recycling collected and able to be on-sold, potentially driving up the cost of the entire scheme.
The council's new kerbside collection service is due to be launched on February 28, but members of the public have the option of switching their 240-litre wheelie bins to smaller 80-litre bins.
The shortfall of smaller bins that has resulted was detailed as city councillors at yesterday's infrastructure services committee meeting were given an update by council staff on the delivery of the new bins across the city.
A briefing paper given to councillors said staff had expected between 5% and 7% of households to request smaller wheelie bins - equating to between 2325 and 3255 wheelie bins - based on experiences in other centres.
Council staff had ordered 4000 of the smaller wheelie bins "as a precaution", but had received 5800 requests, amounting to 12% of households, the paper said.
A further 1500 smaller bins had been ordered and would be delivered by February 27, one day before the new collection service begins.
Council water and waste services manager John Mackie told the meeting anyone else requesting smaller wheelie bins would have to wait. Their request would be put on hold until the end of the latest manufacturing run.
They would have to use their 240-litre wheelie bin until new 80-litre wheelie bins became available, he said.
A $30 fee would also be charged for anyone wanting to change wheelie bin sizes after February 28, he said.
However, asked by Cr Kate Wilson what impact the demand for 80-litre wheelie bins would have, Cr Andrew Noone - chairman of the council's kerbside working party - said he would "rather we don't get into that now".
He said the numbers would be clearer once the new system was operating and had been given time to "settle down", but he urged people to try their larger wheelie bins before considering a switch.
In October last year, council city environment general manager Tony Avery warned a reduced rebate from the sale of recycling could put the $63-per-household cost of the scheme "potentially at risk".
His warning came after 2000 people had applied for smaller wheelie bins, many of them in the mistaken belief the wheelie bins were for rubbish, rather than all non-glass recycling.
