North Canterbury News: April 08, 2021

What’s happening in your
community…
Gold Stars for Great Bins
District-wide recycling bin checks resume
from Monday 12 April, and this time gold
stars will appear on bins where residents have
got their recycling right.
“During the first round of bin checks we found
that people wanted ustolet them know when
they got things right. Agold star isasimple
and low cost way of acknowledging residents
who are doing agreat job”, says Kitty Waghorn,
Council’s Solid Waste Asset Manager.
Educational material will be le in letterboxes
of properties where bins are collectable but
still have afew incorrect items.
Bins that are too contaminated with rubbish
and incorrect items will be le uncollected,
with alabel on the handle explaining which
items shouldn’t be in the recycling bin.
Recent figures show that 60% of recycling is
going to the landfill, prompting the Council to
continue the bin checks.
“Bin checks help us see which items are
causing confusion, so we can do abetter job
of educating people. Italso means we can
remove contaminated bins from collection
before they can ruin the whole truckload”,
says Kitty.
As well as being wasteful, poor recycling hits
ratepayers hard in the pocket. Kitty says that
between October and December last year,
extra landfill charges piled up to more than
$149,000. Unfortunately this year’s figures
aren’t looking any better with January and
February’s extra costs sitting at$92,000.
“Incorrect recycling is costing ratepayers
dearly, each additional truckload to the landfill
costs more than $1,000.”
So far during bin checks, 1,723 bins have been
found to be contaminated. The most common
issues are food, liquid cartons like Tetra-Pak,
takeaway cups, so plastics and dirty nappies.
The Council says that if people are in doubt,
it’s best to throw itout. Find out more about
recycling correctly at rethinkrubbish.co.nz
Dra Long Term Plan
Remember to give usyour feedback on our
Dra Plan by 12 April -it’s important you tell
us whatyou thinkatwaimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk
Applications for Civil Defence Cadets
Close Soon
The Waimakariri Civil Defence Cadets is a
programme for young people aged between
12-17 years old.
Cadets learn emergency management and
leadership skills, make great friends and get a
taste of how rewarding afuture career in the
emergency services could be.
There are only four places available for the
2021 intake and applications close on 9April.
Know someone who might be interested? Find
out more at waimakariri.govt.nz/cadets
The Council isfocused on making sure
we keep up with growth, Covid-19
economic recovery, climate change/
sustainability, and the impact of the
Three Waters Review.
Specifically we are asking for feedback on:
• New community facilities for Pegasus and
north Woodend (Ravenswood)
• Upgrades to the Rangiora Library and
wider civic area
• Parking in Rangiora –including acar
park building.
We are holding anumber of events where
people can come and ask aquestion directly
about the dra Long Term Plan.
We hope to see you there.
Ohoka Farmers Market
Friday 9April, 9am–12pm
Find out more atwaimakariri.govt.nz/letstalk
17 April-2May
Mystery Trail
Free Computer Classes
at Waimakariri Libraries
Term One 2021
Smart Phones Introduction
Kaiapoi -Monday12April10am-12pm
Rangiora-Thursday 15 April 10am-12pm
Bookings essential on
03 311 8901
or ask at anyWaimakariri Library
libraries.waimakariri.govt.nz
ColouringCompetition
School
Holidays
Creative Writing Cometition
Visit libraries.waimakariri.govt.nz or pop
into the library for more information.