Auckland’s fortnightly rubbish collection trial kicked to kerb

Auckland councillors have voted against a six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections in some suburbs after public opposition. Photo / Supplied

By Lucy Xia of RNZ

Auckland councillors have voted not to proceed with a six-month trial of fortnightly kerbside rubbish collections in parts of the city, after considering public feedback.

The proposed trial would have halved the number of kerbside collections in Te Atatū, Panmure, Tāmaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth, with the intention of reducing waste to landfill.

About 5000 Aucklanders had made submissions during consultation and 78% had opposed the trial.

Feedback included concerns about managing fuller bins, smells, hygiene and whether they would have enough bin space, particularly in big households.

On Tuesday, the Policy, Planning and Development Committee voted to scrap the trial.

Its chairman, councillor Richard Hills, said elected members took public feedback seriously and heard people’s concerns that the trial wouldn’t work well.

However, he said reducing waste to landfill remains a priority the committee will revisit in the new year.

“Staff will return to the committee with a range of waste-minimisation options in 2026,

“Feedback on the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2024 showed that reducing waste to landfill is important to many Aucklanders, with 66% of respondents supporting the overall plan and its targets,” he said.

Council’s general manager of waste solutions Justine Haves said council remains committed to meet its waste-minimisation target of 29% by 2030.

“Next year we’ll bring a range of evidence-based options that can help Aucklanders reduce waste to landfill to the governing body for consideration. This work will guide how we continue moving towards a more sustainable future for Tāmaki Makaurau,” she said.

During the meeting, councillor Julie Fairey raised that Auckland Council has been on the pathway of proposing fortnightly rubbish collections since 2012.

She said it’s one thing to look at evidence around the benefits but another issue entirely to get social support for it.

Fairey said it would be useful to hear more from the 18 councils that have been doing fortnightly rubbish collections, and that could help with Auckland Council’s conversations with the community.

– RNZ