Media Release: 3 September 2009

Christchurch Kerbside Bin Service Celebrated

Christchurch’s new kerbside bin service has been celebrated at a function bringing together the three major partners involved in the planning, implementation, and operation of the innovation system.

SULO Talbot, a joint venture between Christchurch-based manufacturer Talbot Plastics and Australian-based SULO MGB, produced more than 450,000 wheelie bins over nine months for the Christchurch City Council’s new three-bin kerbside collection service, which began in March this year.

The second partner, Transpacific Industries, has the contract with Christchurch City Council to collect and service the bins and transport the material to various transfer stations for sorting and processing.

Representing the third partner, and customer, the Christchurch City Council, Christchurch mayor Bob Parker says the planning, manufacture and delivery of the three-bin system was a huge logistical exercise involving a very high level of understanding and co-operation between the various partners, and had been an outstanding success.

Steve Wilson, Chief Executive of Talbot Plastics, says his company reached agreement with SULO MGB in December 2007 to set up a joint venture to manufacture the bins.

In early 2008 suitable machines were sourced ex-USA and premises secured in East Tamaki from Fisher and Paykel. By July the machines were assembled and the first mobile garbage bins were manufactured on 1 August 2008.

“The order from Christchurch City Council was, we believe, the largest plastic moulding job ever undertaken in New Zealand,” says Steve Wilson.

The East Tamaki factory ran seven days per week, 24 hours per day, for nine months, used 3500 tonnes of high-density polyethylene, 450 tonnes of steel axles, and 900,000 wheels, to manufacture the 450,000 bins. It has since gone on to produce bins for other areas, including Tauranga, Waimate, and Selwyn District.

SULO Talbot not only manufactured the bins, it assembled and delivered the bins to every household in the Christchurch City Council area. This involved 12 trucks, 80 staff, and 2389 delivery runs.

Ray Harris, Southern Region Manager for Transpacific Industries, says having a supplier who delivers is critical.

“SULO Talbot’s ability to supply 450,000 bins in less they a year was a tremendous effort.

“The bin collection system has delivered in terms of its waste minimisation objectives, as well as improving safety for collection staff by removing the danger from broken glass and other objects, and reducing the amount of lifting and handling of bins.

“When Christchurch’s crate collection system was introduced 11 years ago, it was very innovative. The new mechanised system of three bins is an equally significant step forward.”

“To date there has been a 34 per cent reduction in waste to landfill, a 28 per cent increase in recyclables, and a 96 per cent increase in the volume of organic material collected.”

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