Good riddance to bad rubbish in Russell

A pop-up rubbish and recycling centre is being installed at Russell for three weeks in a bid to keep the tourist hotspot tidy, thanks to a partnership between community group Resilient Russell and the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board.

The manned centre will be located at the end of the wharf for a "20-day event" from Boxing Day until Monday 14 January 2024 between 10am and 4pm.

It will be a "user pays" service for boaties and will be an alternative to the summer rubbish barge or having to travel to Ōpua. The service will take recyclables for free. It is hoped the temporary service will also encourage boaties to stop in Russell for supplies and visit some of the area's restaurants and cafes.

While the facility is primarily for boaties, other visitors will be encouraged to use the recycling centre rather than use the town’s litter bins to dispose of bottles, cans, cardboard, and other recyclable items. The bins quickly become full and overflow despite being emptied several times a day by contractors during the peak summer season.

Northland Waste is providing the bins free of charge, while Far North District Council's commercial arm, Far North Holdings Ltd, contributed to the cost of the temporary centre along with Russell Kororāreka Kaitiaki Wharf Trust. Local business Hone's Pizza Garden will transport the bins to the refuse transfer station, and a local student has taken on a contract to watch the bins over the holiday period.

Bay of Islands–Whangaroa Community Board member Jane Hindle says that if successful, the pop-up rubbish and recycling centre could become a model for tackling waste in the future.

"I'm stoked by the way that the community has responded to this initiative. Obviously, minimising waste at source is the best way to go," she says. "We hope locals and summer visitors will get on board and recycle where they can. If they see a box of empty beer bottles sitting next to the bin, take them down to the wharf for recycling. Here's hoping for a successful and tidy summer!"

Photo:  It is hoped the pop-up centre will avoid scenes like these this summer.