The popular mobile summer rubbish barge service will be back on the water in the Bay of Islands this summer from Wednesday 27 December.

The staffed barge - a familiar site in the Bay during the summer holiday season - is a joint venture between the Northland Regional and Far North District Councils, the Department of Conservation and contractors Waste Management.

It offers a service for both local and visiting boaties who are encouraged to use it to help keep the Bay of Islands rubbish-free.

The barge service will begin summer operations Wednesday 27 December and will run again Sunday 31 December. After then, the weather-dependent service will generally operate (beginning Wednesday 03 January) on Mondays and Fridays until Friday 26 January. The barge may also run on Monday 29 January if there is demand.

On operational days it will visit Urupukapuka Island campsites from 9am to 10am before mooring close to the south-eastern end of Moturua Island from 10.30am to 1pm (hours will reduce as demand drops off toward the end of January or as capacity of the barge reduces).

A flat $8 fee per rubbish bag applies, regardless of whether pre-paid or plain bags are used. Extra-large bags will incur an additional charge. Recyclables are accepted with the cost depending on quantity and cleanliness; typically somewhere between $3 and $5 with more for dirty recycling.

Users are asked to follow the guidance of barge staff. There will be a maximum limit of four people on the barge at any one time and footwear must also be worn for health and safety reasons.

Meanwhile, shore-based facilities are available daily from 7am to 6pm at Opua (by the fuel jetty Far North Holdings car park) from Tuesday 26 December to Friday 19 January. A Rawhiti site (Kaingahoa campground, Kaingahoa Bay, Rawhiti Rd) will be open daily from 8am - 4pm from Wednesday 20 December until Wednesday 28 February. Both the Opua and Rawhiti sites are closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

To find out more visit www.nrc.govt.nz/rubbishbarge

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