Rural Household Waste Service Options

The online survey has now closed.

Thank you for contributing to the survey on proposed rural waste services.

If you have any further questions or comments please email: letstalk@rotorualc.nz

Do you want rubbish and recycling collections in your community?

Council wants to be able to provide all Rotorua households, including rural and lakes areas, with access to convenient, economical and sustainable waste services.

Feedback so far has told us that rural residents would like a service but it must be a similar service as those living in the urban areas.

With help from the Rural Community Board, Smart Environmental and community focus groups, there are two proposed options:

Option 1 - Kerbside rubbish and recycling collection using wheelie bins and a crate for glass.

Smart Environmental (Waste contractor) has estimated that this will cost between $350-$450 per property per year to service. * As part of the 2018-28 Long-term Plan consultation Council will assess the way refuse services rates are charged to recoup costs across the district.

If this service was to go ahead it would be good to give feedback if you want to pay the costs as indicated or like to see the costs equalised (same for all) across the entire District for the new service (Cost equalised across rural, lakes and urban)


Option 2 - Continue with no service

No service = no extra charge to rates * This would mean current temporary collection areas, access to Landfill drop-off or bag collection points won’t be available.

Do you want rubbish and recycling collections in your community?

Council wants to be able to provide all Rotorua households, including rural and lakes areas, with access to convenient, economical and sustainable waste services.

Feedback so far has told us that rural residents would like a service but it must be a similar service as those living in the urban areas.

With help from the Rural Community Board, Smart Environmental and community focus groups, there are two proposed options:

Option 1 - Kerbside rubbish and recycling collection using wheelie bins and a crate for glass.

Smart Environmental (Waste contractor) has estimated that this will cost between $350-$450 per property per year to service. * As part of the 2018-28 Long-term Plan consultation Council will assess the way refuse services rates are charged to recoup costs across the district.

If this service was to go ahead it would be good to give feedback if you want to pay the costs as indicated or like to see the costs equalised (same for all) across the entire District for the new service (Cost equalised across rural, lakes and urban)


Option 2 - Continue with no service

No service = no extra charge to rates * This would mean current temporary collection areas, access to Landfill drop-off or bag collection points won’t be available.

The online survey has now closed.

Thank you for contributing to the survey on proposed rural waste services.

If you have any further questions or comments please email: letstalk@rotorualc.nz

  • What is Council proposing for Rural waste services?

    Council is proposing two options which are explained below:

    Option 1

    Kerbside rubbish and recycling collection using wheelie bins and a crate for glass.

    Smart Environmental (Waste contractor) has estimated that this will cost between $350-$450 per property per year to service.

    * As part of the 2018-28 Long-term Plan consultation Council will assess the way refuse services rates are charged to recoup costs across the district.

    If this service was to go ahead it would be good to give feedback if you want to pay the costs as indicated or like to see the costs equalised (same for all) across the entire District for the new service (Cost equalised across rural, lakes and urban)


    Option 2

    Continue with no service

    No service = no extra charge to rates

    * This would mean current temporary collection areas, access to Landfill drop-off or bag collection points won’t be available.


    Please have your say here

  • Will I get the same service as the urban areas?

    Option 1 provides for kerbside wheelie bins for rubbish and recycling (a 140l rubbish bin, 240l recycling bin and 40l crate for glass). The differences between the proposed rural service and the urban service are:

    • some residents may need to place their bins on the opposite side of the road for collection

    • collection frequency may differ to reduce rates costs

  • Who to contact

    Council Waste staff and will be attending meetings in each community to further discuss the options available. (See top right of page for dates/times/locations)

    If you have questions about the proposed changes you can speak to a member of the Rural Community Board.

    The board members have been working with Rotorua Lakes Council, alongside members of community focus groups, to ensure local knowledge is incorporated into each option.


  • Who is being asked for feedback?

    Council is asking for feedback from 1300 rural properties in the Rotorua district that currently have no rubbish or recycling services and do not pay a targeted refuse levy on their rates

  • Why should I give my feedback?

    Council needs to put forward a proposal for inclusion in the 2018-28 Long-term Plan in order to provide a service and charge rates accordingly. We need your feedback to know which option to recommend to Council by 30 November 2017.

    If there is support from rural communities for the suggested rubbish and recycling services, a proposal would be made to Council as part of the 2018-28 Long-term Plan process. If supported by the elected Council and wider community, rural rubbish and recycling service will be provided.

    Providing rubbish and recycling services in rural communities would:

    • improve waste management options;

    • reduce the amount of waste being buried or burned;

    • increase recycling and reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfills;

    • meet demands for household rubbish and recycling collection.


  • What happens if I don’t give my feedback?

    Without support shown from your community, Council staff cannot recommend to Councilors to establish a collection service as part of the 2018-28 Long-term Plan.

    The next review of rural waste services will be 2021.