Weekly waste disposal trial might escalate illicit waste disposal issues

In the heart of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, the local council has announced plans to trial fortnightly rubbish collection in certain suburbs, including Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure/Tāmaki, Clendon Park/Weymouth, affecting approximately 10,000 households. This trial, if it goes ahead, is scheduled to start from February 2026.

The trial forms part of the council's goal to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills, as the city currently sends 1.5 million tonnes of rubbish to landfill each year. According to officials, moving from a weekly to fortnightly rubbish collection could help cut waste by thousands of tonnes per year.

However, the announcement has sparked concerns among some residents. Councillor Daniel Newman, representing the Manurewa-Papakura Ward, has spoken to families who are "white-hot" with anger about the proposed trial. He expressed his own concern that the trial might increase illegal dumping in streets, parks, waterways, and beaches.

One resident, Fegafeuō Tuigamala, urges a tougher stance on illegal dumping in Auckland's Māngere, while another resident voiced their concern, stating, "Just imagine the rubbish. It's going to be piled up." Another resident added, "It piles up within the first week. Then people dump it in the reserves just across the road from where I live. It's disgusting."

Some South Auckland locals are worried that the move could worsen illegal dumping in their neighbourhoods. Illegal dumping is indeed on the rise across Auckland, with council costs rising to $2.7 million in 2024 - up $200,000 annually since 2022.

Despite these concerns, Justine Haves, Auckland Council's general manager of waste solutions, states that illegal dumping has not increased because of fortnightly collections in other cities. She also mentioned that other cities like Christchurch, Hamilton, and Tauranga have successfully adopted fortnightly collections.

The Auckland Council is planning to monitor illegal dumping closely if the trial of fortnightly rubbish collection goes ahead. The consultation on the trial will open from 13 to 31 October, giving Aucklanders the chance to provide feedback. The decision regarding the trial will be presented to a council committee in December.

Ed O'Driscoll, the website reporter for this article, researched that the Auckland Council considered cities such as San Francisco, Portland, and Toronto as comparisons for their fortnightly waste collection planning. These cities have reported a reduction in landfill waste along with an increase in recycling and composting.

As the trial approaches, it remains to be seen how Aucklanders will respond and whether the trial will indeed help reduce waste and improve recycling rates, or whether it will lead to increased illegal dumping and other challenges. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.