Collecting household waste is an essential service and will continue throughout the COVID-19 response period.

Waitomo District Council (WDC) has been working through a number of considerations with its contractor Enviro-waste around how to safely provide waste disposal services to our community, in a way that follows all Ministry of Health guidelines to ensure that public health is not compromised. 

Kerbside Collection of rubbish is our best option as it limits unnecessary social contact and allows our contractor to go about their job in a relatively safe manner, while also allowing residents to stay in the safety of their home, and potentially saving lives by preventing the transmission of COVID-19.

WDC has extended its normal route to include a weekly kerbside rubbish collection service for Maniaiti / Benneydale township starting from Friday 3 April 2020. Thereafter, the collection day will be every Tuesday.   This service will continue for the duration of the COVID19 Level 4 lockdown.

We have confirmed with our Contractor that a maximum of two WDC official blue refuse bags will be accepted per household, per collection.  Bags must not be overfilled.  Bags must not exceed 15kg in weight, contain broken glass, hot ashes, or other hazardous materials. Compliance with this requirement is necessary to ensure the health and safety of our Contractor. Please help us to support our essential service contractors.

• Maniaiti / Benneydale residents can purchase blue bags from Te Kuiti New World, SuperValue, and bags will be made available to purchase from Benneydale Food market.
• Place your bag on the kerbside by 8am on Friday 3 April 2020.
• Thereafter, place your bag on kerbside by 8am on Tuesdays.
• Please do not approach our contractor engaged in the collection services.
• Please do not leave bags out overnight to avoid contents being spilled by scavenging dogs.
• Service enquiries can be made by phoning 0800 932 4357.

There will be no kerbside collection of recyclables.  Please hold onto these for the time being.

WDC will continue to review its delivery of waste disposal services to the community in liaison with our contractor Enviro-Waste, and Western Waikato CDEM. We understand that with the closure of our transfer stations, the options for our smaller more isolated communities who currently have no kerbside collection service, is limited.  We are seeking clarification as to whether travel to a waste transfer station will be permitted as “essential travel” – currently the guidelines are ambiguous. If not, we will consider the practicality of extending the urban kerbside collection service into the adjacent rural areas.

Households with COVID-19 infected waste either confirmed or suspected. You must put contaminated waste items such as tissues or wet wipes into a separate tied or sealed bag before putting that bag into the WDC blue refuse bag. The combined bag should then be placed at the kerb for collection on the above, designated day. 

Our kerbside collection contractors will be wearing the appropriate protection equipment to ensure their personal safety.

For more information on essential services provided during this time please visit our website www.waitomo.govt.nz. 

 

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Frequently asked questions and our answers:

 

What waste disposal services are available to me?

We are currently providing our normal weekly kerbside rubbish collection service.  WDC blue refuse bags can be purchased from Te Kuiti New World, Te Kuiti SuperValue, and Benneydale Food market.

 

What days of the week are the kerbside rubbish collection services carried out?

• Te Kuiti’s collection is every Friday.
• Piopio, Mokau, Awakino and the Waitomo ward and Village collection is every Tuesday.
• WDC has extended its normal route to include a weekly kerbside rubbish collection service for Maniaiti / Benneydale township starting from Friday 3 April 2020.  Thereafter, this collection will take place on Tuesday.

Place your bag on the kerbside by 8am.

 

Why are you only providing a kerbside rubbish collection service?

Kerbside Collection of rubbish is our best option as it limits unnecessary social contact and allows our contractor to go about their job in a relatively safe manner, while also allowing residents to stay in the safety of their home, and potentially saving lives by preventing the transmission of COVID-19. We ask for our communities support in using WDC blue bags for the kerbside collection service.

 

Can I put out a black rubbish bag for collection, as part of the kerbside collection service?

No.

Our contractor is managing an increase in the demand on waste services and volumes of household waste.   The size and weight of each bag, and the number of bags put out for collection per household are all aspects that have the potential to impact on the delivery of this service. We ask for your support in using WDC blue refuse bags for the kerbside collection service.

 

Are the Transfer Stations open?

The Transfer Stations are temporarily operated with restricted access, and for the disposal of WDC blue bags only. Click here to view our service information or phone 0800 932 4357.

 

Are you collecting recycling from the kerbside?

No.

The collection of recyclables has stopped following the closure of material recovery facilities that sort and process recyclable material.

Please rinse, squash and hold onto all recycling for the time being. We will let you know when this service has returned to normal operation.

 

Can I burn my rubbish?

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has asked that people hold off lighting any fires, during the COVID19 Level 4 lockdown. For more information visit  https://www.fireandemergency.nz

 

We encourage residents to compost food scraps and garden waste at home.