The deadline for returning the Dunedin City Council's rubbish survey has been extended after a "miscommunication" led to rural homes being missed by distributors.
Council solid waste manager Ian Featherston said about 3500 surveys were found yesterday, after council call centre staff began getting complaints from members of the public still waiting for their copies.
Areas missed included Middlemarch, Outram, Momona, Waitati, Waikouaiti and rural delivery areas of the city, he said.
Christchurch-based company PMP Distribution, which has an office in Dunedin, was contracted to deliver the surveys.
The company's staff had found the 3500 "spares" after a search prompted by the complaints.
The error was the result of a "miscommunication" between the council and the company. No action would be taken.
The surveys would be delivered next week, and the new deadline for returning the surveys was October 30. The survey canvassed opinions on rubbish collection and recycling options.
Staff had been amazed at the number of surveys returned, despite the delivery glitch, with 8500 already received, Mr Featherston said.
The glitch gave more time to Christchurch-based company The Field Connection, which was contracted to analyse the results on behalf of the council.
It had originally been told to expect about 3000 returns.
