Residents will be asked to comment on a recycling system proposed by the Waimate District Council to reduce the amount of rubbish going into landfills.
The council has decided to undertake public consultation on a proposal to replace the 240-litre wheelie bins used by urban ratepayers with 26 bags a year and a recycling crate.
The recycling system introduced in 2005 has not achieved savings in the amount of waste being dumped because urban ratepayers have tended to fill up their wheelie bins.
The present system had reduced waste by about 25%, compared with reductions of up to 75% recorded in Timaru with its three-bin system.
The first step in the new system is to encourage more recycling with the smaller bags and the recycling crate.
However, it does not address the issue of green and residual waste, which will be considered later.
Council solid waste manager Brian Purcell suggested the wheelie bins could be used to collect green waste at peak times when needed most.
He said many urban residents chose to fill the larger wheelie bin, avoiding recycling or composting.
"To achieve greater diversion from landfill, it is necessary to alter the collection system to change behaviour," Mr Purcell said.
If the changes were introduced, they would form part of the council's 2009-10 annual plan, he said.
