Wasp are you doing?
FAQ'S
Why are we trialling the removal of bins?
Lake Tikitapu is a popular location for locals and visitors, including for events, and while we have engaged a pest control specialist to help manage the wasps, this does not guarantee elimination of all wasps and follow up management will need to take place. We’ve also received feedback from the public, regular user groups and event organisers about wasps being an issue in the area.
Food waste odours that remain on the bins, even when empty, continue to attract wasps and other pests, so we are trialling the removal of the bins and we will continue to monitor the impact of this.
How long will the trial be?
The amount of litter collected from the bins is seasonal, so the trial will go through the winter and the area will be monitored.
It is important to note that this is a trial, and if the bin removal does not assist with wasp management, or there are issues with rubbish, we will look at other options.
Has bin removal been successful in other areas in our district and around Aotearoa?
We have other areas around the district that do not have rubbish bins and rubbish is not an issue, for example, Te Pūtake o Tawa (The Mountain Bike Hub), which is a destination hotspot and has hundreds of users pass through each week.
The benefits to going bin-free at Te Pūtake o Tawa is that it reduces the amount of rubbish at the reserve, it reduces the chance of rubbish being blown from bins into our forest environment and it encourages visitors to be conscientious of their rubbish and recycling.
This is just one local example of how going bin-free can work well, with users taking their rubbish and recycling away with them. This area is always kept tidy by our community and manuhiri (visitors) and businesses there that generate waste from their products provide bins.
All of Auckland’s Regional Parks operate on a “Take your rubbish with you” policy. The system has worked well there and is supported strongly by their visiting public. We know our community likewise value their lakes and forests, and we hope that the trial will have community support. Like many other areas around New Zealand, the removal of bins in popular reserves is becoming more common.
What about our manuhiri (visitors) in mobile homes?
Manuhiri using holiday and rental accommodation have access to rubbish disposal at their accommodation sites. There are also facilities in Rotorua for mobile homes to dispose of their rubbish.
What if I have an event at Lake Tikitapu?
Event organisers are required to prepare waste minimisation plans and provide appropriate services for their events. This has always been the case and includes the need to have a plan for removal of rubbish generated from the event.