Kerbside recycling is not on the Whanganui District Council's radar but it is looking at building several satellite recycling stations instead.
The issue was brought to the Property and Community Services committee by the Waste Management and Minimisation Working Party which recommends satellite stations be built in Castlecliff, Whanganui East, Mowhanau Village and along the River Road.
Council officer Stuart Hilton told the meeting that Whanganui has an excellent centrally located Resource Recovery Centre in Maria Place Extension with established processes and outlets for all the recycling products dropped off by the public.
"The opportunity now exits to broaden the drop off recycling centre concept through satellite stations to wider areas of the Whanganui urban area in an effort to encourage people in the suburbs to recycle due to close proximity of the service," Mr Hilton said.
Depending on their design each satellite recycling station would cost between $5000 - $20,000 each and would be funded through a waste levy fund.
Ongoing costs would depend on the number of times a recycling centre has to be serviced but were estimated at between $10,000 and $30,000 per year. A waste minimisation fund could fund the first year but thereafter funding would need to come from general rates.
Rob Vinsen said a recent survey indicated that 63 per cent of residents wanted kerbside recycling but added that satellite stations would make for a good compromise.
Philippa Baker-Hogan said kerbside recycling would cost each ratepayer between $50 - $75 a year while Alan Taylor said flytipping in rural areas was a concern.
Mayor Hamish McDouall questioned the need for a satellite station in Whanganui East saying it was only a few minutes drive to the main facility in town. He suggested Aramoho might be a better option.
The Waste Management and Minimisation Working Party will investigate the proposal further and report back to a future committee meeting.
Any recommendations adopted by the committee will require approval at a meeting of the full council.
Meanwhile the committee will recommend to full council that all events receiving council funding or requiring a license to use a public place, will be required to submit and operate an approved waste minimisation plan for the event.
Council and the Resource Recovery Centre have developed a number of free resources to assist organisers to operate zero waste events.