Three Strikes and Your Bin's Out: Whakatāne District Council Cracks Down on Contamination

The Whakatāne District Council has announced the introduction of a new “three strikes” system aimed at reducing contamination in kerbside recycling and greenwaste bins.

Under the new policy, if a bin is found to be contaminated, the household will first receive a warning sticker on their bin along with an educational flyer explaining how to correctly sort waste. This will occur for the first and second offenses, giving residents time to make improvements.

On the third offense, a formal letter will be issued, and the bin may be temporarily removed for up to three months. There will be no reduction in rates during this period.

“Our priority is to educate and support our community to recycle and dispose of greenwaste properly. Taking someone’s bin is a last resort and will only happen when people repeatedly abuse the service despite the help and warnings we provide,” said Solid Waste Manager Nigel Clarke.

The move comes after the Council had to send 745 tonnes of contaminated greenwaste to landfill because it could not be processed into compost. This disposal cost ratepayers approximately $143,000.

While most households in the Whakatāne District are doing the right thing, a small number of repeat offenders are having a disproportionate impact on the system. Even a few contaminated bins can compromise the quality of the entire recycling or greenwaste collection.

The new three-strike rules will come into effect across the Whakatāne District at the end of June.