A local man has put his engineering skills to good use, coming up with an inventive way to tow the new recycling bins up and down his long, steep driveway.
Tihiotonga resident Tom Hayes converted an old mobility scooter to tow the recycling bins after deciding it was "impossible" to do the job manually.
"As I am an engineer I decided to convert an old, retired mobility scooter to transport the bins for our steep drive neighbours, as well as our bins."
This comes as a group of pensioners, who struggle to get their bins to and from the roadside each week, have asked Rotorua Lakes Council to change the current collection system.
Mr Hayes said the conversion required work such as lengthening the chassis, doubling up on the power by fitting extra motors, increasing battery capacity, fitting a towbar the bin handle would lock into and making further towing hooks so the unit could tow up to six bins.
A bottle carrier was also fitted.
He said he collected his neighbour's bins on either side of him, taking them to the roadside and returning them in the afternoon.
Mr Hayes said the council had offered to send someone for people with bad driveways or elderly people but he decided to "make this for fun".
He said he appreciated the help he had received from companies in supplying parts and services at no cost for the project.
These included Scorpro Engineering, Orca Engineering and Marine, Power Factor specialists and Tony Jaques Electrical.