Auckland City Council - City Scene

New refuse collection times have been set for Auckland City's central business district. This is part of a campaign to clean up the inner city and get rid of the unsightly rubbish that is "stored" on the kerbside every day or dumped illegally.

The Heart of the City Business Association, is backing Council's efforts to make the CBD cleaner, says chairman, Phelan Pirrie.

"We've got a responsibility to deal with the waste we produce, and to find places to keep it so it doesn't spoil the look of our streets. It will be better for business and more pleasant for pedestrians."

Auckland City's Streetscapes Operations Manager, Surendra Dass, says many people have forgotten what Council collects and when.

"We collect all sorts of rubbish and much of it is commercial but each rateable property is only entitled to a once-weekly collection, for 'domestic-type' refuse. Obviously inner city areas have different requirements than elsewhere and the CBD will still get 12 collections a week."

Information packs for businesses, with ideas on issues such as recycling and ways to reduce waste, will be distributed shortly.

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