Tauranga City Council transfer stations are opening for general rubbish and green waste only.

The Te Maunga and Maleme Street transfer stations will open from today but recycling will not be accepted until the country reaches alert level two.

Council general manager, infrastructure Nic Johansson says the council is pleased to be able to provide this service again to the public.

'We know many people have been asking us to open. With a traffic management plan and a robust mechanism for contact tracing in place, we can now do so, safely and responsibly.

'We appreciate that many people have rubbish and garden waste to dispose of, and we appreciate everyone's patience. Our priority has been to ensure that we can keep the wider community safe during lock down.”

While re-starting the service, delays are anticipated, the council says.

'Where possible people should delay their visit to ease the initial rush. And should queues get too long, people may be asked to return another day.”

Contact tracing will be in place - visitor/vehicle details will be collected via a website, asking people to provide their name, telephone number and car registration.

While at the transfer station, people are being warned to expect delays, traffic will be managed – people are asked to take direction from staff.

Details for all visitors/vehicles will be recorded for contact tracing: People can provide details by visiting a website – by QR code or via in a web address.

Anyone unable to use the internet can provide their details to staff directly.

People need to maintain 2m distance from others at all times. This includes other members of the public as well as all staff.

Payment will only be possible by card.

What people need to know:

• Transfer stations will be able to take general rubbish and green waste.
• Any recycling that's brought in will need to be added to general rubbish and go to landfill. This is due to the council's inability to process recycling at level 3. Council is working with the site operator to enable recycling services to return to normal at level 2.
• To minimise the potential of delays to city wide waste collections, commercial operators will have priority access. At Te Maunga transfer station, access for the general public will be via Truman Road, commercial traffic will come via Tip Lane.
• People will need to pre-sort all waste e.g. rubbish, garden waste prior to their visit.
• Contact tracing will be in place. Details will be recorded for all visitors/vehicles via a website/app.
• Payment can be made by PayWave or card only - no cash will be accepted.
• Transfer stations opening hours are as normal:
  • Monday – Friday 7.30am – 5pm
  • Saturday & Sunday – 9am – 5pm