04 May 2007

Paper rubbish bags return

In response to demand for paper rubbish bags as a more environmentally acceptable option than plastic and biodegradable plastic bags, the Kapiti Coast District Council is to make the bags available at $2.15 each.

“The biodegradable plastic bags will still be available from supermarkets at a recommended retail price of $1.90 each but, for people who want to take a more sustainable approach, we have negotiated a deal for the stronger paper bags to be sold for $2.15 each,” the Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee, Barry Mansell said today.

“It provides people with an option that clearly many will want to take. At a recommended retail price of $2.15, many will feel it’s worthwhile to spend the extra 25 cents per bag to gain the greater environmental acceptability of paper and the increased strength of the multiwall paper bags,” Mr Mansell said.

The Committee reviewed the District’s overall charges for mixed waste and greenwaste yesterday and resolved to increase them to a level based on a $85 per tonne for mixed waste and $55 per tonne for greenwaste.

The greenwaste charges are set at a level to recover the costs of processing of the greenwaste at the landfill. However, the difference between the mixed waste and green waste charges still provides an incentive to dispose of greenwaste separately and not with mixed waste.

The new charges will apply from July 1, 2007.

Typical charges for mixed waste at the landfill will go from $7 per car boot full to $15.00 while a station wagon or four wheel drive will incur a new charge of $22. Utes and vans will increase from $13 to $25.

Greenwaste charges will be $2 for a bag and $6 for a car boot while a full carload will go from $4 to $8, station wagons and four wheel drives from $7 to $12 and a small trailer from $7 to $12.

“While these charges are certainly considerably ahead of where we were some 12 months ago, they compare more than favourably with charges applying at neighbouring landfills,” Barry Mansell said.

“A mixed waste car boot load costs $12 at Levin and $11 at Porirua and Wellington City. It will be $12 in Kapiti. A station wagon or 4WD load at Levin costs $25 and $22 at Porirua and Wellington City. We’re going to charge $22.”

A schedule of the new charges and conditions will be advertised in local papers during the next month and signs notifying the new charges will be clearly posted at the transfer and landfill sites prior to July 1, Mr Mansell said.

ENDS

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