Rubbish collection points removed
The corner of Maungakawa and French Pass roads
A number of unofficial rubbish bag drop-off points across the district will be removed in the coming months in an effort to eliminate littering, odour and vermin at the sites.
Located across the district, the unofficial sites are used by residents whose properties are not serviced by EnviroWaste to drop off their yellow rubbish bags for collection.
Some of the sites are so popular, piles of up to 30 or more bags are often left on the berm for days ahead of collection.
Waipā District Council compliance manager Karl Tutty said the sites were now a major problem for residents living nearby, for local communities and for Council which was responding to numerous complaints.
“Bags left at these locations for long period of time are not only unsightly but they attract vermin and animals which inevitably leads to littering when bags are ripped open, and can create a terrible odour.
“It’s unfair for those living nearby to have to deal with these sites. If rubbish bags were only left there on the day of collection, then it wouldn’t be an issue but that unfortunately is not what is happening.”
Tutty said rubbish collection is a private service in Waipā and was not managed by Council.
“It is up to all residents to select a provider who will service their properties. Not all properties can use the yellow rubbish bags which are provided by EnviroWaste.
“Many rural properties, for example, should be using a wheelie bin service instead or taking their rubbish to a transfer station as their bags will not be collected from the street outside of their houses.”
Tutty said Council would phase out the sites one by one from Friday 26 February.
“We understand residents will need a bit of time to sort out a new rubbish provider if they have been using these drop-off points so they’ll have a short grace period to do so.
“However, after this time we will start actively monitoring these sites and fining those who continue to dump their rubbish there.”
Some of the drop-off sites include the corner of Baffin and Franklin streets in Pirongia, the corner of French Pass and Maungakawa roads in Cambridge and the intersection of Hydro Road and State Highway 1 in Karāpiro.
The Baffin Street Pirongia site will be removed first, with collections at that site ceasing from 26 February.
More information on rubbish providers in Waipā can be found at www.waipadc.govt.nz/rubbish.
