[comment caption=Would you pay to recycle? If so, how, much?] A new rubbish collection and recycling system proposed for Dunedin could cost each ratepayer up to $472 a year and spell the end of blue bins and black bags.
Possible changes to the system are being driven by the Dunedin City Council's zero-waste to landfill policy, and a government strategy for waste minimisation and diversion of waste from landfills.
Proposals are complicated by the varied geography of a city with suburbs ranging from flat areas with small sections to steep hill suburbs.
From Tuesday, a residents' survey will be sent to every household in the city, asking for feedback on a variety of options for the future of rubbish and recycling.
Council infrastructure services committee chairman Andrew Noone said the genesis of the changes was a working party set up in 1998 to implement the council's policy of zero waste to landfill, which he said was an "ambitious" strategy.
The policy continued to be supported, and the survey was to get an idea from residents of "where to from here".
The city produces about 100,000 tonnes of refuse every year, with a further 6225 tonnes recycled.
About 32,000 tonnes could be composted or recycled.
The council is aiming for a 10% reduction in non-recyclables to landfills by 2011, and to increase by 50% the 100kg of recyclable material collected from each house.
Options for the future include everything from a fully privatised collection system, resulting in the highest charges, to leaving households to manage and organise their own rubbish disposal.
The present system - for which the lowest annual cost is $113 - is included, but the survey forms note the black bags are vulnerable to animals, and sharp objects placed in them are a health and safety concern.
The contents of blue bins could get blown away.
Wheelie bins were suggested for rubbish, recycling and green waste, and while the cost for those would be higher than what was paid for blue bins, all recycled material could be put in together, and material was less likely to be blown away.
Cr Noone said feedback on the issue showed concerns for a strong recycling system "came up every time".
Affordability was critical, and his gut feeling was the higher end of the cost range would not be popular.
"The question is, are people prepared to pay another $100 for an advanced service for recycling?"Councils in many areas of New Zealand were considering the matter, and three-bin systems were in place in Timaru, and also in Auckland, where there had been a 27% increase in recycling.
"I'm not totally convinced the Timaru system is the best," Cr Noone said.
Dunedin had hill suburbs, the campus area and South Dunedin to consider, and each area was different.
Smaller properties in South Dunedin may not have the space for a three-bin system.
"There could be suburban variations."
Cr Noone said the residents' survey was the first step in a consultation process, and there was more consultation to come.
A new system was at least two years away, he said.
The survey was to be filled in by the person over 18 in each household whose birthday was next.
It would include residents in rental accommodation - it was not just for ratepayers, solid waste manager Ian Featherston said.
