Residential kerbside changes
Following lots of community feedback in 2020 and 2021, and a comprehensive tender process, our new and improved kerbside collection service started this year. Every household (excluding those in commercial areas) received:
- a glass crate, collected fortnightly
- a food scraps bin, collected weekly
- a wheelie bin for rubbish, collected fortnightly
- a wheelie bin for recycling, collected fortnightly
With the new kerbside collection service, we’ve made some improvements to your bins. By applying an RFID tag to your existing wheelie bin - these help us troubleshoot (for example, identify missed collections) and can help us return your bin to you if it is stolen. We've also added a black latch to keep the bins closed on windy days.
Your new rubbish bin comes already fitted with that special latch to prevent the lid blowing open and rubbish escaping on windy days.
Collection days have changed for most people (except those who live in Te Aroha).
The new kerbside collection days will be:
- Matamata (incl. Waharoa and Walton): Tuesday
- Morrinsville (incl. Tahuna): Wednesday
- Te Aroha (incl. Waitoa and Waihou): Thursday
We know change can be frustrating, so we'll make sure there are lots of reminders close to the time to help people adjust to their new collection day. The easiest way to be reminded is to install the free Antenno app - you can do this now.
FAQs - new bin delivery
We know many people live on hills or have long drive ways or both. If you need to tow your wheelie bin to the kerbside by car, you can purchase special wheelie bin tow bar attachments. You can call Sulo Group on 09 273 5988 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FAQs - new kerbside services
Please continue to take your bins to the collection point on a council road as the contractor is only contracted to collect from council roads.
FAQs - cost
Under the old system, rubbish and recycling is paid for through targeted rates ($123.91 per property that receives the service) and user fees (rubbish bags). The total amount a household pays varies depending on how many rubbish bags they use, e.g.:
Number of bags | Amount paid in rates | Household cost for waste disposal |
One bag ber fortnight (26 bags x $3) $78 |
$123.91 | $201.91 |
One bag per week (52 bags x $3) $156 |
$123.91 | $279.91 |
Two bags per week (104 bags x $3) $312 |
$123.91 | $435.91 |
Under the new and current system, rubbish and recycling will be fully paid through rates (i.e. you won't need to buy rubbish bags any more).
Every household that receives the kerbside collection service will pay $289.28 per year for this in their rates - this is only $9.37 more per year for household that currently put out one bag per week.