The affected communities have decided they would like to move to a prepaid bag system with a central collection site, a move that has been hailed as leading the way in waste minimisation for the district.
Central Otago District Council waste minimisation officer Sophie Mander said this would be the first true user-pays method of waste disposal in the district and would hopefully encourage more recycling.
The Patearoa community had even asked for their landfill to be closed earlier than intended.
"We want our landfill closed earlier, at the end of November, because we don't think it will work if it closes in the holiday period because so many cribbies will be there, it will be chaotic.
We want systems in place and working before the holiday period," Patearoa Ratepayers Association chairman John Gibson said.
While details are still to be worked out at a council meeting later this month, Ms Mander said the two communities had considered options for quite some time and the early closure was "something we are working towards".
Other details to be considered include exactly where the central collection point will be in each community.
Tarras Community Trust member Beau Trevathan said there was concerning talk about their collection point being situated with the recycling centre - outside the fire station, next to the recreation ground.
"To have it there, I think, would be degrading to the area.
People that use the area should not have to be near a rubbish collection facility.
"It's a feeling of a lot of Tarras people that the area is not an appropriate place for waste disposal."
The Tarras community's preferred option, which is now being considered by council roading and planning departments, is to have it situated at the landfill site, on Jolly Rd.
In Patearoa, the preferred option is on road reserve on Aitken Rd, where their recycling facility is.
It is proposed that both the facilities be locked so only those paying for the service can use them, and that they be dog-, cat- and vermin-proof.
Ms Mander said the plan was that residents would buy rubbish bags at an estimated cost of $3.50 to $4, though that could change when the council reconsiders its fees and charges.
When filled, those bags could be dropped off at the collection point and council contractors would pick them up once a week and take them to Victoria Flats, near Gibbston, with all other council-collected waste from Central Otago.
She said though the two communities had not had to pay for rubbish disposal in the past, this was considered to be the fairest user-pays method of disposal.
"This is a significant change for the communities and it has taken a number of years to get used to the change and the amount of waste that can be thrown away.
"If you have a hole in the ground, you can just turn up and throw anything in it, but you can't do that with bags."
Despite the extra cost, it seemed residents were on board.
"Cost recovery is most important. We don't live in a subsidised world so cost recovery is one way of doing it. It's good that the people using the service will pay for it and those that don't wont have to subsidise the rest," Mr Trevathan said.
Mr Gibson said there was "no argument at the [last public meeting] about the cost. They [council] have to come out and pick it up and take it away."
The options
Patearoa has a population of 98 over 50 households and produces approx 65 tonnes of rubbish per year.
Tarras has a population of 170 over 70 households and produces approx 115 tonnes of rubbish per year
Options: a local use trailer, a local skip, prepaid bags or large or small wheelie bins.
Community-preferred option: user-pays bag with a central drop-off site.
