FAQs

The WasteNet Council’s waste service contracts are due to expire in 2027. As we look to establish new contracts, it’s timely to review what services are being provided to ensure they are efficient, practical and meet the community’s needs.

There are three services being considered:

1. Glass Recycling Bin

Introduction of a new Glass Recycling Bin, alongside current refuse (red bin) and recycling (yellow) bin services.

2. Glass Recycling Bin + Organics Recycling Bin

Introduction of a new Glass Recycling Bin and a new Food & Organics Recycling Bin and , alongside current refuse (red bin) and recycling (yellow) bin services.

3. Existing Services

Retaining two bin services, being a refuse (red bin) and recycling (yellow) bin, with glass being collected in the yellow recycling bin.

Full details of the options and costs for both Invercargill and Gore residents are outlined in the consultation document.

For Invercargill City Council residents, staying with the current service is one of the options being considered.

For Gore District residents, reintroduction of mixed recycling (glass + general recyclables) is due to happen before the service changes being consulted on will occur. This is referred to as “Planned Service” in the consultation documents. Reintroduction of mixed recycling in the yellow bin for Gore residents is a separate process to the consultation and service review process.

Gore District Council is required by central Government legislation to reintroduce mixed recycling (glass + general recycling) services before 1 January 2027. To achieve this, Gore District Council’s Long Term Plan has accounted for this change and planning is now underway to comply with this requirement.

Gore District Council forms part of WasteNet, along with Southland District Council and Invercargill City Council. As WasteNet’s waste service contracts are due to expire in 2027, we are looking to establish new contracts and it’s timely to review what services are being provided to ensure they are efficient, practical and meet the community’s needs. This is a separate process to the reintroduction of mixed recycling in Gore District. 

There are a range of aspects which make up the cost of delivering the new service options. To estimate these costs, cost modelling has been completed which calculates the cost of collections (fuel, staff, trucks) as well as how the services will be delivered (truck type, collection routes, bins required).

The costs shown are modelled costs only. The final household charges may change slightly based on final contract negotiation. 

Adding a separate glass bin will mean that glass can be recycled more effectively. Separating glass also stops broken glass contaminating other recycling items, which increases the amount that can be recycled and the value of these recyclable items.  Separating the glass also creates a safer process for people collecting and sorting the waste.

Modelling has shown that a separate glass collection service could be provided for about the same cost as providing the current service of a mixed recycling bin + refuse bin. Cost savings are achieved by taking glass out of the yellow recycling bin which stops broken glass contaminating other waste items and increases the amount that can be recycled. Having recycling materials which aren’t contaminated with glass shards increases the value of these recyclable items when they are sold. These cost savings and increased returns from the sale of uncontaminated recycled materials mean that the additional glass recycling bin service can be provided without a significant change in the overall cost.

Feedback from collection suppliers is that glass crates are not recommended due to health and safety reasons, specifically that this requires collection staff to be moving around the vehicle in traffic to manually pick up crates. On this basis, we have not considered crates as part of our possible solutions.

Organics collections are now more common for NZ councils as organics in the refuse (red) bin are the largest potentially divertible portion and are the largest contributor to landfill emissions. At present, kerbside refuse (red) bins in Southland currently contain over 58% of organic material, mostly food waste and green waste.  

Adding a green waste bin means that food waste and green waste from gardens can be repurposed (for example, composted) rather than being sent to landfill. Removing food and green waste from landfill significantly reduces landfill costs associated with disposing of waste, and also avoids costs required by the Emissions Trading Scheme.

At the moment, garden and food waste collected via kerbside refuse (red) bins is sent to landfill.

Green waste dropped off to Councils’ transfer stations is generally mulched/chipped and either decomposes on site or is used for old landfill site remediation.

Organic material is the largest contributor to emissions from landfill operations, with these emissions occurring as the materials break down over time.

Modelling has shown that diverting food and garden waste from landfill will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by these waste streams. This diversion assists in New Zealand meeting international obligations under the Paris Agreement, and the 2050 target and emissions budgets for Aotearoa.  

If you don’t receive kerbside collection services now, we are not currently planning to extend the service to you, although this is an option in the future.   If you would like to receive the service please do let us know as part of your consultation feedback.

Eligible households will receive a set of bins. Similar to the approach at the moment, bins will be emptied by a side-loader rubbish truck, either directly at the front of the property or at the nominated collection point. In some cases, a nominated collection point is used where it is not safe for the collection vehicle to stop and empty bins (e.g. a corner on a high-speed road).

We expect that the new services will be introduced in 2027-28. The timing will depend on what services are to be delivered.

A regional approach enables cost efficiencies to be achieved through economies of scale and operational efficiencies, such as utilising rubbish trucks to collect in more than one district. This regional approach means that services can be delivered more effectively and at a lower cost to residents.

There are cost efficiencies achieved from regional collaboration.

If the regional service does not proceed, options will need to be reassessed and further consultation may be required.

WasteNet’s website contains information of materials which can go into your bins – check out www.wastenet.org.nz

The Government’s waste and resource efficiency strategy, adopted in March 2025, sets the following outcomes, which councils are required to align with when developing their own strategic waste direction:

• Reduction of waste disposal per person
• Increasing reuse and recycling of materials and products so that we retain valuable resources in the economy
• Minimising emissions and environmental harm from waste and litter
• Ensuring resource recovery and disposal facilities are managed to minimise their environmental impacts
• Limiting the environmental harm caused by contaminated sites including legacy sites.

This is a change from previous Government’s strategic direction that required specific service changes such as the introduction of organic collection services within set timeframes.

There is the potential that central Government strategy and requirements could change again in the future, which may require a change of service at that time although this is currently unknown as such planning has been undertaken in accordance with current requirements.

Our focus at the moment is on what services are required by the community. The next step in the procurement process is to explore who will be providing the service.  

WasteNet Southland is a shared solid waste service for the Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council and Southland District Council. Formed in the early 2000’s, WasteNet’s mission is to coordinate the effective and efficient delivery of waste services to the councils and the Southland region, including waste service contracts.

Southland District Council has postponed consultation to allow time to obtain more accurate forecasted costs. Southland District Council anticipates that consulting in the new year will be more beneficial for their community.

If you want to raise a concern about waste services in your district, you can log a request for service via your Council’s Customer Services Team. you can do this:

Invercargill City Council Residents:

In person at Te Hīnaki – Council Administration Building or Bluff Service Centres, 

Via phone by calling (03) 21 11777

Online at My Invercargill (icc.govt.nz)

Gore District Council Residents:

In person at Gore District Council office – 29 Bowler Avenue, Gore 

Via phone by calling (03) 209 0330

Online at info@goredc.govt.nz

If you have any questions regarding this consultation, or solid waste services you can contact us via email: Policy@icc.govt.nz

Accessible versions of all of our documentation are available on request to policy@icc.govt.nz or via phone, 03 2111777, or in person at 101 Esk Street Invercargill or 29 Bowler Avenue, Gore.

The easiest way to submit is online, using the form on this page. Alternatively, you can pick up a submission form and drop one off at: Te Hīnaki – Civic Building 101 Esk St, Invercargill

• Bluff Service Centre 98 Gore St, Bluff
• Invercargill Public Library 50 Dee St, Invercargill
• Murihiku Marae 408 Tramway Rd, Invercargill
• Gore District Council 29 Bowler Ave, Gore
• Gore Library, 10C Ardwick St, Gore
• Mataura Library and Service Centre,1 Bridge St, Mataura

or you can also email the Policy Team at Policy@icc.govt.nz