A new "three-strikes" system will be introduced across Southland in a bid to clamp down on reckless recyclers.
On Monday, the waste advisory group approved the system which meant offenders who received three red tags in one calendar year would lose their bin.
A report prepared for the meeting showed the contamination rate in recycling bins for the three years to 2022/23 was about 20%.
Under the new system, offenders will have their recycling service suspended until they sign and return a reinstatement form.
Southland District Council strategic manager water and waste Grant Isaacs said his council had not been able to enforce a "three-strikes" system in the past but had sent letters which proved effective.
“Once they get that education and know what’s happening, they get their act together,” he said.
The new system will begin on March 31, and follows the reintroduction of bin inspections this month.
It will only be rolled out in Invercargill and Southland, with Gore missing the cut due to not having a recycling service.
Other councils around the country including Dunedin City Council, Tauranga City Council and Auckland Council have adopted similar approaches.
An update on the number of bins inspected and how people performed will be provided at a waste advisory group meeting in April.
— LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
