Green waste charges may be looming for island

Waiheke Islanders wanting to dump commercial green waste at the transfer station may soon have to pay up if Auckland City decides to change the rules.

At present, it costs nothing for commercial operators to get rid of the waste at the TransPacific Industries run station.

But Auckland City Council acting contract co-ordinator Bob Turnbull has recommended the possible introduction of charges.

The recommendation has been made in a report to council's city development committee about the performance of TransPacific's waste and recycling operation since taking over in July.

It was discussed on Thursday by committee chairman Aaron Bhatnager and member councillors.

They voted to ask environmental and utility manager Mike McQuillan to investigate whether commercial green waste charges should be introduced on the island and produce a report.

Once it is ready, it will be given to the Waiheke Community Board for information purposes says a further committee resolution.

Mr McQuillan confirms the report will go to the board for information only although officers may discuss their findings with board chairman Tony Sears.

"I'd expect we'd put in the report some community board views."

He says TransPacific does not stand to gain from any introduction of charges - the cash will go to council as do fees already charged on the isthmus for commercial green waste.

Both Mr Sears and fellow board member and Hauraki Gulf islands' councillor Denise Roche are worried.

They say if council imposes the charges it could seriously disadvantage the elderly and disabled even though those without disability would still be able to dispose of their non-commercial green waste for free.

Ms Roche says her understanding is most of the island's green waste comes from commercial contractors working on local properties.

"What it means is that able-bodied people, like myself, will be able to drop off my green waste for free but people less physically mobile who have hired someone to clean up their sections will carry the cost."

She says other worries are about how it will impact the local economy and the ongoing work to rid the island of weeds.

Ms Roche says some of the many gardening contractors may be unable to continue if they have to pass costs on.

And she wants to know if Weedbusters will be charged during any major eradication drives.

Mr McQuillan has confirmed there are no exemptions allowed in current rules for city operators and the same is likely to apply on the island if green waste fees are brought in.

Mr Sears' submission to the committee on Mr Turnbull's report questions whether the recommendation to investigate possible green waste charges might herald even more changes to the waste service.

He asks whether it marks the start of the breaking of promises such as council's vow the community would not be charged for green waste.

Mr Sears is blunt about council motives.

"Does the author of this report see another, as yet untapped, opportunity to extract money from our community?"

Mr Sears also questions why the board did not get the chance to see the report soon after it had been written so it could be discussed at last month's board meeting.

Committee chairman Aaron Bhatnager says it had been written specifically to inform members of the city development committee and did not need to go to the board first.

Mr McQuillan thinks it will be at least three months before his report about charges will be ready.

- Waiheke Marketplace