The Dunedin City Council had hoped to start collecting food waste separately from mid-2023, as well as bring in wheelie bins for rubbish and an optional extra collection of gardening waste.
The council yesterday blamed international supply issues for forcing a delay to central parts of the programme.
Specialised collection vehicles would not be available until 2024, council waste and environmental solutions group manager Chris Henderson said.
The selling of council rubbish bags had been set to end in mid-2023, but would now continue for another year.
Wheelie bins for rubbish, intended to replace the black bags, and bins for food and garden waste collection would be introduced in mid-2024.
"We know residents have been anticipating the new service and may be disappointed at the delay, but the new service will definitely be a big improvement and well worth the wait," Mr Henderson said.
The council has signed a 10-year contract worth $104 million with EnviroWaste and it starts next July.
"This contract will improve Dunedin’s whole waste system and support the city’s zero waste and zero carbon aspirations," Mr Henderson said.
"Big strides will be made over the next couple of years."
The contract includes construction and management of modern resource recovery facilities for recycling and composting.
Waste and recycling kerbside collection will be extended in some areas after mid-2023.
When the full programme is brought in from mid-2024, it will include an option of a 140-litre combined bin for food and green waste, or a 25-litre bin for food scraps.
That is a change from what had been proposed earlier, when separate food and garden waste collections were favoured.
The change followed industry feedback, Mr Henderson said.
Residents could still opt for a 240-litre bin for green waste.
Mr Henderson said the council would continue to provide workshops for people to learn about composting.
EnviroWaste customers and sustainability general manager Glen Jones said the contract would help the city preserve the environment.
"Our focus is to deliver services and solutions that make it easier for people to make more sustainable choices, to reduce waste and environmental impact through increased recycling and resource recovery," Mr Jones said.
The company would work with the council to develop new regional recycling infrastructure. — Additional reporting Cas Saunders
