Edtorial: Support strong for city recycling

The news councillors have voted to introduce kerbside recycling is likely to be met with strong support. After all, it's what many of our readers have been asking for for years. Photo: Ben Fraser

It's an issue that affects pretty much everyone in the district. I'm talking rubbish and what we do with it.

It's been an ongoing debate in this newspaper for years, with most discussion centred around the adequacy or otherwise of our paper rubbish bags and the lack of kerbside recycling, which other cities enjoy.

If the number of cars flowing into the recycling centre on Te Ngae Rd is any indication, Rotorua residents want to do their bit for the environment.

For some though, getting themselves and their papers and bottles to the centre can be difficult, inconvenient or near impossible.

So the news councillors have voted to introduce kerbside recycling is likely to be met with strong support. After all, it's what many of our readers have been asking for for years.

The long-term plan is yet to be formally adopted - that happens at the end of this month - but councillors have voted to approve a number changes to the waste collection services, including the end of the old brown paper bags, which are prone to breakage and spillage.

Very few plans are going to be a one size fits all, so it's good to see the council continuing consultation with lakes and rural communities. It's only common sense that their needs may be different from those in the city centre.

There are still details to be worked through by the council, but the impetus seems to be there to finally tick this item off the city's wishlist.

And that's sure to be a crowd pleaser.