'Black bag' collection to cease

The weekly "black bag" kerbside rubbish collection operated by the Waitaki District Council will end from November 27.

Instead, ratepayers who have used the council's service will now have to make their own arrangements with private contractors.

Only about 17% of ratepayers have used the council's black bag service since private contractors have offered rubbish collection services, including wheelie bins.

Yesterday, the council decided to end its own service, saving ratepayers about $130,000 a year.

Alternatives are already being offered by private contractors. Those available to ratepayers when the council's service ends are. -
• Wheelie bins from Transpacific Industries.

• Wheelie bins from Awamoa Bins and Skips.

• A yellow bag service by Transpacific Industries (bags can be purchased at supermarkets).

• Taking refuse to the resource recovery park, transfer station or landfill.

The council will stop selling its plastic black bags from Friday and allow two months for people to use supplies.

Once the bag collection ceases, people will still have the opportunity to take official black bags to the transfer stations and Palmerston landfill free of charge until June 30 next year.

Anyone who wants to exchange stockpiles of council black bags for contractors' bags can do so from November 30 until January 31 next year, either at the council's headquarters in Oamaru or the Waihemo Centre in Palmerston.

Bags will be exchanged only to the equivalent value.

The decision to exit the black bag service follows the council's decision in the Long Term Council Community Plan to remove the funding of this service from the rates.

 

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