Editorial: A load of old rubbish

Some people in Rotorua have issues with kerbside recycling.

No one is perfect and neither is our city, so it was interesting the response the Rotorua Daily Post got back when it asked our readers to finish this sentence.

"In 2014 I want Rotorua to..." in less than a day we had more than 50 responses ranging from cleaning up the district's lakes to people being a lot nicer to each other.

There were the usual requests for less crime and more jobs but what struck me as interesting is the kerbside recycling.

This always sparks good debate from those who are for it saying it will save the householder time and money to recycle, while on the flip side those opposed to the idea will ask, why increase our rates to have kerbside recycling, when we have a free recycling centre?

Both are legitimate arguments, but what I find amazing is the fact Rotorua still uses paper rubbish bags.

In my opinion, it is an outdated way of getting our household rubbish disposed of. I was a resident in Kawerau when they went from rubbish bags to wheelie bins and at the time I was opposed to the change. I didn't want my rates to increase just so I could have my rubbish stored in an ugly-looking plastic bin. But I eventually came around to the new system. I don't know how many times I've seen paper rubbish bags scattered across our Rotorua streets, after a resident has decided to put their rubbish out the night before only to have every stray cat and dog in the neighbourhood dining out on last night's dinner scraps.

On another note, it's sad to see we've had a number of incidents on our local roads this weekend, with one crash resulting in a fatality.

While many will be returning to work today for the first time in 2014, there are still some who are on holiday and are yet to make their way home. Please take care on our roads, take your time, drive to the elements and most of all don't get frustrated.