New Kerbside Service - July 2023



The bin changeover for the new kerbside collection began rolling out on 22 May 2023 ahead of the new kerbside collection which began on 3 July 2023. Properties that have not received the green lid, the new 140L red bin or the latch for the yellow recycling bin should contact the Council on 03 440 0056 or email waste@codc.govt.nz
Our five new kerbside collection trucks are all capable of collecting organics, recycling, glass and rubbish, with four on the road every week, and a fifth on standby.
When your new bins were delivered, you should have received a booklet:
'Your guide to Central Otago's new kerbside collection' can be found online right HERE.
Or by clicking on this link:

In the booklet you will see information that describes how we've streamlined our calendars:
Kerbside collection calendars 2023-2024 - click on these links to find Calendar 1 and Calendar 2
New kerbside collection calendars 2023-2024 - at a glance
Why changes have happened to our kerbside collection services?
- Along with the rest of New Zealand we are having to look for better ways to manage our waste and make better use of the resources we have. It is becoming less and less acceptable to send everything to landfill and expect our waste problems to just disappear.
- Prior to the new service starting 1 July 2023, from our sampling of red bins throughout the district we found nearly half of the contents was either food scraps or greenwaste, so when we asked for waste companies to tender for this year's new contract, we asked them for a solution for this.
- We had also been hearing for some time from residents who have lived in other parts of the country that have green bins, that these would be a great idea!
- Finding a better option for almost half of the red bin contents allows us to follow best practice in waste management and provide smaller general waste red bins. The new red bins are 140L in size, so about 1½ bin bags smaller than the current bin.
- We have heard feedback from residents that the glass collection service at 8-weekly intervals is too infrequent so have made it a monthly collection. The other change with this is that the yellow bin will not be missed on this collection week, as it had been previously.
- Your guide to Central Otago's new kerbside collection - click here for the booklet.
- For the Central App podcast by Solid Waste Team Leader Lauren Hunter summarising the changes click here.

Hear Lauren on the Outlet: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2178117/12827563
What are the changes to our bins?
- Our new kerbside collection service has been expanded to four bins – a new green lidded bin to collect food scraps from the kitchen and greenwaste from the garden is being added.
- At the same time the red bin has been replaced with a smaller 140L bin.
- A bin latch is fastened to the yellow bin to help keep the lid closed on windy days.
- The blue glass bin is being collected more frequently, every four weeks.
This has involved three key changes to our new kerbside collection services, which began 1 July; you will have been delivered your new bin configuration. To do this, three things happened:
1. Lid change - the lid on your existing 240L red bin was changed to a green lid.
2. New bin - a new 140L red bin will have been delivered.
3. New clip - a bin clip will have been installed on your yellow bin.

Things to think about
- This new service that began on 1 July 2023 has been a big change and may take time to settle in. Prepare to have some patience with the inevitable teething issues, both for your household and the collecting contractor.
- You will need to think about where your bins can be stored on your property. Can you have the green bin somewhere handy to collect food scraps from your kitchen? If it's tucked down at the end of the section, it may not get used very much.
- Our new contract allows for assisted services. If you are elderly or have a medical condition that means putting the bins out is difficult, you will be able to apply for an assisted service. Please keep an eye open for details. We will also liaise with care agencies to help us find those people who may need this service.
- Do you have a holiday home in the district or have a holiday home as one of your neighbours? Think about how to get all the bins at these properties out for the week when the new bins will be delivered.
- How will you collect your kitchen scraps? Do you already have a compost container? Could you use an old ice cream tub or something similar? Do you need to get a kitchen caddy? We are in the process of applying to the Ministry for the Environment for funding for some kitchen caddies and hope to have some available for residents.
When did the new bin roll out begin?
The new bins began to be delivered from Monday 22 May 2023 starting with Alexandra.
We asked that red and yellow bins to be put out on the scheduled collection days to allow our contractors to make the changes.
Properties with multiple red and/or yellow bins were asked to ensure all their bins were out on their scheduled collection day for the changeover, with only one red bin per property having a lid change to green, and one 140L red bin delivered. All other red bins were to remain as they were.
Given the large number of bins on each collection route, it was not possible to complete all changes of the scheduled changeover in your area. If you find that your bins have still not been changed please ensure that you place them out again for the next scheduled collection, and contact us.
This was the roll-out period:
Date | Red Lid and Bin Changes | Yellow Bin Clip Installation |
---|---|---|
Monday 22 May | Alexandra 1 | |
Tuesday 23 May | Alexandra 2 | |
Wednesday 24 | Bridge Hill, Clyde | |
Friday 25 May | Fruitlands, Teviot Valley | |
Monday 29 May | Cromwell 1 | Alexandra 1 |
Tuesday 30 May | Cromwell 2 | Alexandra 2 |
Wednesday 31 May | Bannockburn, Pisa Moorings, Ophir, Omakau | Bridge Hill, Clyde |
Thursday 1 June | Ranfurly, Naseby | Fruitlands, Teviot Valley |
Monday 5 June | Public Holiday - no collection | Public Holiday - no collection |
Tuesday 6 June | Alexandra 1 | Cromwell 1 |
Wednesday 7 June | Alexandra 2 | Cromwell 2 |
Thursday 8 June | Bridge Hill, Clyde | Bannockburn, Pisa Moorings, Ophir, Omakau |
Friday 8 June | Fruitlands, Teviot Valley | Ranfurly, Naseby |
Monday 12 June | Cromwell 1 | Alexandra 1 |
Tuesday 13 June | Cromwell 2 | Alexandra 2 |
Wednesday 14 June | Bannockburn, Pisa Moorings, Ophir, Omakau | Bridge Hill, Clyde |
Thursday 15 June | Ranfurly, Naseby | Fruitlands, Teviot Valley |
Monday 19 June | Cromwell 1 | |
Tuesday 20 June | Cromwell 2 | |
Wednesday 21 June | Bannockburn, Pisa Moorings, Ophir, Omakau | |
Thursday 22 June | Ranfurly, Naseby |
When did the new service start?
The new collections started in the week following 1 July 2023, so the first collection of the new service was Monday 3 July.
What can go in each of the four bins?

What can go in the four bins at a glance.
We've included the four Individual bins below for the Green, Yellow, Blue and Red bins...
What will happen to the food scraps and greenwaste in my green bin?
- With the green bin collection underway from the beginning of July, the green bin contents are going to the Redruth composting facility in Timaru. This has allowed us to deal with organic waste from Day 1 of our new contract. We wanted to introduce a green bin collection but thought we would have to wait two to three years until a new organics processing facility in Central Otago was built.
- It’s still the aim to have our own facility in Central Otago, but in the meantime we can get our organic waste (food scraps and green waste) composted in Timaru. Carting our organic waste to Timaru in diesel trucks isn’t ideal, but the reduction in landfill costs for all of us, as well as the lowering of landfill methane production for the next 2-3 years offsets that.
- The organics collection will be commercially composted. This means that the compost will get to very high temperatures, which can destroy noxious weed seeds and pathogens. Once the compost is made, we will have it available for purchase at our transfer stations, and our Parks team will use it on our parks and reserves throughout the district.

Can I get a 240L bin for my house?
We understand that the introduction of a smaller red bin may present some challenges, however, throwing away valuable resources at an increasing cost to us and the planet is not sustainable.
If you can get all your food waste – and by this we don’t just be leftover food you don’t eat, but unavoidable food waste, like onion skins, banana peel, orange peel, teabags, corn cobs – into your green bin you might find you have more space than you expect in your 140L red bin.
To encourage everyone to try the new smaller red bin, there will be a three-month “settling-in period” during which residential properties cannot upsize the red bin. After this period ends on 1 October 2023, residential properties who feel they need a larger red bin will be able to apply on the CODC website.

Can I still take greenwaste to the transfer station?
Some people may still need to take greenwaste to transfer stations because they have a large garden or have a landscaping business. Greenwaste will still be accepted at all four transfer stations. The proposed costs for this are $75 per tonne.
Have the kerbside collection areas changed?
They are the same as prior to 1 July 2023 when the service changed to the new provider:
Kerbside Collection Areas
Find out which kerbside collection area you are in by typing your address into the EasiMap below.
