A Waikouaiti business owner took some direct action yesterday in his dispute with the Dunedin City Council over recycling.
Waikouaiti Fish Inn owner Alister Baird brought a small load of cardboard in the back of his car and dumped it on the driveway of the council building.
Mr Baird said his action was in frustration at his recycling bin not being emptied properly, but the council yesterday responded that he needed to pack his bin less tightly so items would not get stuck.
He also had an EnviroWaste bin, which he said was filled the same way, and that contractor had no trouble emptying it.
He had been in touch with the council, and a staff member had visited him.
''He poked around the bin and said 'it is a bit tight'.''
But Mr Baird said the bin should be emptied properly, if necessary with the driver getting out of the truck to do so.
Of yesterday's action, he said: ''It's a bit ridiculous but it's just to make a point to them.''
Waste and environmental solutions contract manager Megan Bell said staff visited Mr Baird on Monday to address his concerns and look at his recycling bin.
''His bin was so full of cardboard that staff could not pull it out.
''It was explained that recycling bins should not be filled so tightly that the contents are stuck when the bin is tipped up by the truck.
''If bins are so full that the contents do not tip out with gravity, they cannot be collected due to potential hazard risks and damage to bins and trucks.''
Ms Bell said staff would continue to work with Mr Baird on his use of the kerbside recycling service.
If people had more recycling than they could fit into their kerbside recycling bin, it could be dropped off to the Green Island landfill at no charge.
''In some instances commercial collection services may be more appropriate.''
A council spokesman said the cardboard had been picked up and recycled.
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Comments
Well done that Man!!, nothing but respect. Dunedin needs to and will see more of this type of thing, the Council are way too old school and basically go yep!! next please and nothing is done. They dismiss people and sweep things under the carpet they reply on people getting tired and going away. Once again Mr Baird well done nothing but respect for you. I've seen truck drivers bang the bins using the hydraulics to remove rubbish. They gentleman lives in Waikouaiti not Dunedin a long way to travel.