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Backlash from residents has led the Waikato District Council to abandon plans to ditch Tuakau’s wheelie bin service.
The council sent letters and emails to Tuakau residents advising them of the plan to begin phasing out the wheelie bin service from July 1.
New buildings would not receive wheelie bins, and damaged bins would not be replaced
from this date, with those households advised to start using rubbish bags and stickers.
from this date, with those households advised to start using rubbish bags and stickers.
The service would then end by July 2027.
However, Tuakau resident Vicki Tremewan said she did not receive the email or letter, and neither did many other residents.
“The communication process has been diabolical.
“One neighbour got an email from the council, while myself and many others on my street did not. I thought ‘something’s definitely not right here’ and decided to look into it further.”
One letter dated April 17 was sent to residential properties instead of businesses, causing confusion, Tremewan said.
The council later issued an apology, carrying out a letter drop to residential properties with a different letter.
Tremewan organised a petition, gaining 449 signatures in 10 days.
Only parts of Tuakau have wheelie bins, with the service in place under the former Franklin District Council. The Auckland Council parts of Franklin are receiving wheelie bin services from June 30.
“The reason Tuakau got bins in the first place was that the local population demanded bins,” Tremewan said.
She said plans to end the wheelie bin service seemed ludicrous when the neighbouring Auckland Council is bringing in the bin service across Franklin, stating it is better for the environment than using single-use plastic bags.
In June, the Waikato District Council ditched the plans to end the wheelie bin service.
A spokesperson for Waikato District Council said the decision was communicated via a special edition long term plan newsletter and would be shared further through social media.
“Tuakau residential households will keep their wheelie bin rubbish service past July 2027. The council will also continue providing new or replacement bins.
“In early 2026, we’ll check in with the community again through the annual plan to see if you’d like to keep the service long term, which may move to a targeted rate.”
