Residents are being asked whether Invercargill City Council should push ahead with a plan to introduce new glass recycling bins to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill.

The proposal is included in the Council’s draft Long-term Plan (LTP) 2024-34, which is now open for public feedback. Residents can have their say on whether they support the initiative, which has an up-front cost of $1.65m, with ongoing operational costs of $620,000 a year.

Invercargill City Councillor Alex Crackett said separate glass recycling would help reduce the amount of contamination in waste and ensure more glass is being reused for things such as aggregate for road resurfacing.

“The separate glass recycling initiative is part of how Council is looking after the environmental wellbeing of the region,” Crackett said.

“We know that we need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, and this proposal will achieve that.

“Broken glass in the city’s mixed recycling means the Council has to send extra waste to landfill, which costs more and is not good for our environment. The proposal to introduce a new blue 140 litre glass recycling bin would help reduce waste to landfill and increase the amount of glass being reused.

“We want to hear what residents think about the proposal before we make final decisions.”

The Council is asking residents what they think about two options as part of wider LTP consultation:

• Preferred option – introduce a new blue glass recycling bin at every property currently receiving recycling services with a capital cost of $1.65m in 24/25 and ongoing annual operational costs of $620,000. This would increase the annual targeted rate for recycling by $29.72 to $271.73.
• Another option – introduce new bottle banks (six in Invercargill, two in Bluff) for glass recycling. This would mean any glass disposed at home would have to go into rubbish bins and would increase waste to landfill, which would increase waste costs. The bottle banks would cost $47,821 to introduce and see annual operational costs increase by $276,635, increasing the annual targeted rate by $12.57 per household to $254.58.

Manager Strategy, Policy and Engagement Rhiannon Suter said there were a range of ways people could provide feedback on the glass recycling proposal, and all the other activities and projects set out in the draft LTP.

“We want to hear from as many residents, businesses and community groups as possible so the Council can make informed decisions on projects like this and on others such as a proposal to increase funding to improve housing for the elderly, or how we fund carbon emission reduction plans.”

To learn more visit letstalk.icc.govt.nz, or pick up a copy of the Consultation Document from Te Hīnaki Civic Building at 101 Esk St, the Invercargill Public Library, Bluff Service Centre, Splash Palace or Murihiku Marae.

You can also have a chat with Councillors and Council staff at an in-person engagement session, which will feature at various locations and public events throughout the consultation period. For times and location information on in-person sessions, visit letstalk.icc.govt.nz.

You can also send in a video submission via letstalk.icc.govt.nz, or set up a ‘cuppa and a chat’ with the team by emailing policy@icc.govt.nz or calling 03 211 1777.

To give your feedback, submit online at letstalk.icc.govt.nz, post it or drop it off at Te Hīnaki Civic Building at 101 Esk St, the Invercargill Public Library, Bluff Service Centre, Splash Palace or Murihiku Marae.

Submissions are due by 5pm, Tuesday 2 April.