14 Mar 2022

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Christchurch City Council wants to make some changes to its kerbside collection service to provide greater flexibility in our changing urban environment.

As consultation on the Draft Annual Plan 2022/23 gets underway, the Council is also considering allowing multi-use residential developments to opt out of having to pay the Waste Minimisation Targeted Rate. The charge pays for the collection and processing of recycling and organics.

“Our three-bin kerbside collection service provides a door-to-door waste service for residents. However, we’re aware this service doesn’t work for large multi-use residential developments where space to store large numbers of wheelie bins and have them collected is limited,” says Christchurch City Council Head of Transport and Waste Management Lynette Ellis.

“All developed properties currently have to pay for the kerbside collection service, whether they use it or not. They pay for the collection and processing of the material in the yellow and green wheelie bins through the Waste Minimisation Targeted Rate. They pay for collection and disposal of the rubbish in the red wheelie bin through the general rate, which is based on the capital value of each property.

“What we are proposing to do is allow multi-unit residential developments to opt-out of the kerbside collection service and avoid paying the Waste Minimisation Targeted Rate of $196.45 per occupied unit.”

To be eligible to opt-out, multi-unit residential developments will need to:

  • Demonstrate that they have an equivalent rubbish, recycling and organics service through a private contractor.
  • Complete a waste management plan that meets the objectives of the Council’s Waste Minimisation and Management Plan.

While residential developments that opt-out of the service will not have to pay the targeted rate, they will continue to fund the Council’s other waste management activities through the general rate, including the collection and disposal of rubbish in the red bin, the cost of operating transfer stations, landfill aftercare and our waste education programmes.

“As we experience greater urbanisation and growth, we recognise that the kerbside service we provide is not always the best solution. We want to be flexible by allowing alternative, more suitable, waste collection systems. The alternative system will need to provide an organics and recycling service, as well as rubbish disposal, to ensure it works towards our goal of minimising waste to landfill,” Ms Ellis says.

In another change, the Council is proposing to extend the kerbside collection service to some additional properties in the Wairewa area of Banks Peninsula who currently only receive a part service.

The additional properties currently pay 75 per cent of the Waste Minimisation Targeted Rate because they have to transport their own waste to the Birdlings Flat Transfer Station or the Little River recycling point.

“We’re planning to offer a full kerbside service to all properties accessible to our collection vehicle, between Cooptown and Gebbies Valley. These properties will have the option to order three bins, or continue to use the existing facilities. We’re keeping it flexible, as we know through consultation with residents that some people prefer the service they have now,” Ms Ellis says.

However, all developed properties that have the service available will be charged the full Waste Minimisation Targeted Rate, in line with the Council’s policy throughout the city.

Properties already paying the 75 per cent part rate, will have an increase in annual rates of around $49.

You can have your say on these proposals until Monday 18 April.