Refuse system costs to be studied

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33052, 20 October 1972, Page 14

Refuse system costs to be studied

A report of projected costs of the paper-bag rubbishcollection scheme will be prepared by Waimairi County Council staff for presentation to the December meeting of the council’s works and reserves committee.

This was decided by the council last evening on the recommendation of the committee, which discussed the question at its meeting earlier this month after receiving a report from Cr I. G. Clark.

In this report, Cr Clark said that the cost of collection of the bags in the 197273 year was estimated at $151,478, which would be $71,830 more than if tins were used. Many people would have to buy extra bags, he said, and in effect the ratepayers would be asked to find an extra $101,830 a year for rubbish disposal under the bag system. The extra costs had not been given enough consideration, he said, and the results of surveys which had shown a favourable response to the bag system were open to question. A saving from the use of the bags would never occur, because of the three variables in the cost—wages, bag costs, and freight costs — the council had control only over the wages. Under the

tin system wages were the only main variable. “I am not aware of any clamouring by the ratepayers for a change in the collection system, but I am aware of many requests for road improvements and a better water supply,” Cr Clark’s report said. The bag system was “an unnecessary and unwarranted luxury,” and should be voluntary, he said. At the committee meeting, Cr Clark spoke to his report and said he was sure ratepayers would not oppose reverting to tins if they were told that up to slm could be saved in the next 10 years. He moved that the use of bags be voluntary. The county chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) said he felt it would be retrograde to revert to tins particularly as the bags had not yet been given a fair trial.

He said that the council had always known the system would cost more overall. Other councillors said it was too soon to make another change, and that more information was needed. Cr J. B. Russ had said he supported Cr Clark’s suggestion of a voluntary system, and that if people in the surveys had been presented with the costs, their replies would have been different. Cr Clark’s motion was put and lost, and the committee then agreed to seek a full report on projected costs for the 1973-74 year.