4 August 2015

Rotorua Lakes Council wants to reduce the amount of waste going to the rubbish dump and encourage more people to recycle.

As part of a review of how we manage waste in the district, the council wants to hear from residents, particularly in the rural and lakes communities.

Wheelie bins and kerbside recycling are proposed for urban areas but we want to talk some more with rural and lakes residents to discuss what’s possible in your communities.

This follows a formal submission process which was conducted as part of developing the council’s long-term plan.

He aha ō whakaaro? What do you think?

There are several ways to have your say:

A SURVEY: Fill out the Rotorua Lakes Council household rubbish and recycling survey. Go to rotorualakescouncil.nz and follow the home page link called ‘Rubbish and Recycling’. Click into that and you’ll find a link to the multiple choice survey. Or get to the survey via this link.

AN EMAIL: Email us your thoughts at waste@rotorualc.nz

ATTEND A MEETING/HUI: Come to a meeting near you to hear about the options available in your area and provide feedback. See below for details of meetings.

FACEBOOK: Leave a comment on the Rotorua Lakes Council Facebook page.

The survey is open for all residents to complete and closes on 16 August. It’s quick and easy to do and will provide the council with useful information about current levels of service for rubbish and recycling and your preferred options for these.

The information collected will help council understand your community’s expectations, what services are currently used and how services can be improved in your area.

Meetings are being held in a number of lakes and rural communities in the next two weeks to present and discuss available options.

Why is the waste strategy being reviewed?
Council has to review its Waste Management and Minimisation Plan every six years. We face a number of challenges:
• Ongoing reduction of income from the district’s landfill (rubbish dump);
• Demand for transfer stations and the high costs of funding these;
• Limitations and district coverage of kerbside rubbish collection (10% of the district does not have kerbside collection);
• High demand for kerbside recycling and for recycling centre facilities (particularly for large inorganic items like computers, TVs and microwaves).

What’s already been decided?
The strategy has not yet been finalised. Council decided further engagement was needed, based on feedback that told us services needed to be different for different communities.

Next steps
A proposal will be presented to councillors in September and the aim is to implement the new services in July 2016.

Where can I see the draft waste strategy?
Go to rotorualakescouncil.nz and click on the link on the home page link called ‘Rubbish and Recycling’. You’ll find the link to the draft strategy there.

Meetings
Mamaku
Initial Meeting:    5 - 7pm on 3 August
Follow Up Meeting:          5 - 7pm on 11 August
Venue:    Memorial Hall, Mamaku Street, Mamaku

Okareka and Tarawera
Initial Meeting:    5 - 7pm on 4 August
Follow Up Meeting:          5 - 7pm on 10 August
Venue:    Okareka Hall, Okareka Loop Road, Okareka

Reporoa
Initial Meeting:    5 - 7pm on 5 August
Follow Up Meeting:          5 - 7pm on 12 August
Venue:    Reporoa College,  Massey Road, Reporoa

Waikite Valley, Ngakuru, Horohoro and Atiamuri
Initial Meeting:    5 - 7pm on 6 August
Follow Up Meeting:          5 - 7pm on 13 August
Venue:    Bluff Club, 434 Nicholson Road, Ngakuru

Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rotoma
Initial Meeting:    2 - 5pm on 8 Aug 15
Follow Up Meeting:              2 - 5pm on 15 Aug 15
Venue:               Okere Falls Store, 757 State Highway 33, Okere Falls