Auckland City councillors have refused to budge not once, but twice, on giving every residence and business a new red-top wheelie bin.
People living in multiple properties with just one rates demand, such as blocks of flats, were given just one bin in July to share.
Anyone wanting another bin has had
to pay an annual fee of $185.
Multiple properties on one title received one of the larger, 240-litre, bins under the old policy.
Public anger over the smaller, 120-litre, bins has failed to persuade councillors to change their minds and treat all residents and businesses equally.
Councillors opposed to giving each property a wheelie bin argued their case on environmental and economic grounds, saying it would cost $3.5 million and push the increase in household rates this year from 3.9 per cent to 5.3 per cent.
Meanwhile, problems have appeared in a batch of Auckland-made bins delivered to western suburbs, including wheels collapsing, ill-fitting lids and blurred logos.
The council has started a hunt for faults in the $2 million batch of 60,000 bins bought from an Otahuhu manufacturer.
Those councillors who voted on July 19 to give every dwelling and business a bin were:
Mayor Christine Fletcher* (seeking re-election), Jon Olsen, Gray Bartlett, Frank Ryan, Jan Welch*.
Those who voted for the status quo were:
Doug Astley, Victoria Carter*, Bill Christian*, David Hay*, Kay McKelvie*, Richard Northey*, Noelene Raffills*, Penny Sefuiva*, Faye Storer* and Vern Walsh*.
Maire Leadbeater* abstained.
In June, councillors had voted 15-5 in favour of retaining the status quo.
Feature: Local body elections 2001
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