Some residents on the Hibiscus Coast have raised concerns about the food scrap bins that hit our streets this year.

Many are saying the bins are starting to smell due to the increased summer temperature, and are worried about attracting pesky flies and cockroaches.

To address the common issues, the Auckland Council has some practical solutions for local residents.

Smelly odours: The pink compostable bin liners for your benchtop caddy are designed to combat odours.

Change them every 2-3 days, and regularly empty the contents.

The liners are available from several retailers on the coast.

Limited Space: If bench space is tight, use a smaller container with a lid, like an ice cream container, to store food scraps.

To prevent odours, freeze the container (or bin liners), and empty them into your food scraps bin on collection day.

Already Composting: If you’re already composting, you can still compost your uncooked fruit and vegetable scraps, and use the bin for cooked and meat scraps.

Convenience: Disposing of food scraps is as easy as regular rubbish disposal, as the bins are collected weekly on the same day as your usual council collection.

Apartment Living: In shared spaces, group your food scrap bins to save room and contribute to Auckland's zero-waste goal by 2040.

Embracing the food scrap collection service supports a sustainable future for Auckland, reducing waste and environmental impact.

This Auckland Council's new food scraps collection service, launched in early 2023, aims to combat the environmental impact of food waste. 

This service has been implemented across most of the region to divert food scraps from landfills, where they produce harmful methane emissions.

Instead, these scraps are transformed into biofuel and fertilizers.