Bin tags: Scrapping pay-as-you-throw collection 'unfair', low-waste residents say
Auckland Council’s proposal to scrap bin tags in favour of rates-funded rubbish collections has been labelled “unfair” by residents who produce very little waste.
West Auckland, North Shore and Papakura residents have been on a pay-as-you-throw system for their kerbside rubbish collection since 2017-2018.
This system was to be implemented across the region, however, Auckland Council now believes the price of bin tags will need to be much higher to incentivise residents to reduce their waste.
So, it is proposing to move the entire region to a rates-funded collection service, the price of which is determined by what size bins residents use.
The council estimates that with a standard 120 litre rubbish bin, this will cost households $314 per year, which covers rubbish, recycling and inorganic collection. In 2023, the council will also roll out a food scraps collection service, which is not optional and will bring the rate up to $375.
For those who put out a 120L bin each week, the rates-funded model will cost them less than the current PAYT system, at $2.89 per week compared to a $4.25 bin tag.
However for those who are low-waste, the rates-funded system may cost them more.
Click 'read more' for the full story on Stuff.
Rock'in with Elvis by Mike Cole
The Memories of Elvis Fan Club invite you to our 1st Elvis Social for 2026. We are excited to have our own Mike Cole back at the Te Atatu RSA on Saturday 28th February at 7.30pm. Cost only $20pp. Tickets are on sale at the RSA or reserve through Jackie 0274901126. So lets see you with your dancing shoes on and that great smile as we start off 2026 with a bang.
Poll: As a customer, what do you think about automation?
The Press investigates the growing reliance on your unpaid labour.
Automation (or the “unpaid shift”) is often described as efficient ... but it tends to benefit employers more than consumers.
We want to know: What do you think about automation?
Are you for, or against?
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9.4% For. Self-service is less frustrating and convenient.
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43.5% I want to be able to choose.
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47.1% Against. I want to deal with people.
Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???
“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.
On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.
[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.
Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.
Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”
Full article: www.theguardian.com...
If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.
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