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Tenby Powell Tauranga City Council Mayor |
I have to admit to being slightly bemused by some of the media commentary on the introduction of a council-led kerbside waste and recycling service from July 2021.
What's not to like, after all?
The new system will save most households money (and many a lot of money); it will progressively and significantly reduce the amount of household waste we send to landfill (currently 70 truckloads of rubbish travel over the Kaimais every week from Tauranga to a landfill in Hampton Downs, equating to some 90,000 tonnes per year); it will eliminate the duplication of services which currently exists, cutting back on the number of rubbish trucks circulating around the city; and it will reduce our carbon and waste footprints.
Looking at the negative commentary, a few things stand out.
'Kerbside collections will add 7% to our rates” – This is true, but ignores the fact that for most people, the targeted kerbside rate simply replaces a much higher cost they are already paying for waste collections which provide a less comprehensive service.
'It's unfair that you can't opt out” – Tauranga's performance in sending unnecessary household waste to landfill is appalling. It's true that a minority of households are doing a good job in minimising their waste, and unfortunately those people will likely be paying more for the new service. However, to be effective and materially reduce our landfill waste volume, kerbside collections have to be universal. There is a greater good at stake here, which means all households will need to make a modest contribution – about $4.40 a week. And please remember, this includes the current glass collection cost and GST.
'There are too many bins” – The only way to reduce the amount of general waste is to separate it at source. That means we must have a small bin for waste that goes to landfill; a small bin for our food waste; a larger bin for general recycling (paper, cardboard, cans and grades 1 & 2 plastics); and a glass crate. The new system will take a while to get used to, but it works successfully in other cities, so we know it will work here too.
'I can't cope with putting that many bins out at the roadside” – Not every bin will have to be put out every week. For people who will have difficulty getting their bins to the roadside, an assisted service will be put in place to help get bins out, and back in after collection.
'The system we already have is working well” – Actually, it's not. Per person, Tauranga sends twice as much household waste to landfill as Christchurch does. It's time our waste disposal was brought into the 21st century, because landfilling waste is only going to get more difficult and costly. A step change now will not only provide environmental benefits, but will save us huge future costs in transporting and disposing of waste.
'The new system penalises people who are being responsible” – This is true, to a degree, but anyone who genuinely wants to reduce the city's overall waste footprint should welcome a collection system that achieves that. Everyone will find it more convenient to put their recycling at the kerbside than to have to take it to a transfer station; and from the second year of the service, people can opt to have smaller general waste and recycling bins, for a lower service cost. As mentioned earlier, there is a greater good at stake and we all need to contribute to achieving that.
So, in conclusion, I would urge the naysayers to conserve their vitriol and give the new system a chance to prove itself. The benefits will be considerable and everyone will gain in some way, even if it's only knowing that we are contributing to a more sustainable, less wasteful future for our city.
Nga mihi
Tenby Powell
Mayor of Tauranga