Kerbside Recycling. Now or Never!

From now until 4pm on Friday 7th May, the Rotorua District Council is receiving submissions from the community on its Draft Annual Plan for the coming year.
 
The Waste Management and Minimisation Plan sits within the Annual Plan and in it, the Council’s preferred option is to enlarge the downtown recycling drop-off centre and open a smaller version in Ngongotaha.  I do not believe that this is the preferred option for the community.
 
In the current Draft Annual Plan, the Rotorua District Council does NOT plan to offer kerbside recycling, unless it is strongly supported by submissions from urban residents.
 
The Council has calculated that to enhance the drop-off centres (Option 4B) will cost each ratepayer an extra $14.66 per year.  Alternatively, to provide the most useful kerbside system (Option 3B) would cost each city ratepayer an extra $100.85 per year (that’s $1.94 per week).
 
If you want to have a say in this process, now is the time to do it!
 
Whether you do want kerbside collection or don’t want kerbside collection, I encourage you to make a submission to RDC before 7th May.  Doing nothing will support the “preferred option” of continuing with drop-off centres only.
 
If you want to see the full list of options, you can click here to see the Summary and Submission Form, but in a nutshell:
 
Support Option 3B if you want kerbside recycling using a provided Wheelie Bin, but keeping your glass separate in a plastic bag beside the bin.  Expect a rate increase of about $100 per year.  This is my preferred option.
 
Support Option 4B if you want to stay with drop-off centres for your recycling.  Expect to pay an extra $15 in your rates to enlarge the city centre and add another one at Ngongotaha.
 
You can make your submission online by filling out the online submission form or you make your submission by email to submissions@rdc.govt.nz – include your full name and address and the detail of what kind of service you’d like and why.  Also state whether you’d like to speak to the mayor and councillors about your submission.
 
I think we’re in for an interesting time with this.  Every one of you I’ve spoken to wants kerbside and wants it yesterday.  If you tell the Council today, you could make it happen!