Thu 23 July 20
SOLAR BINS SUPPORT KAITIAKITANGA & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Solar powered Big Belly' compacting rubbish bins that hold up to 5x the volume of standard 60 litre rubbish bins and sends an alert when they need servicing have been installed at 11 high traffic sites around Ruapehu.
The 11 bins are located in Taumarunui (2), Owhango (1), National Park Village (2), Ohakune (4), Tangiwai (1) and Waiouru (1).
Property Team Leader Rebecca van Orden said that the Big Belly' bins were funded by a $129,000 grant from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) and were part of our commitment to kaitiakitanga (protection of our natural and cultural assets) and sustainable tourism growth in Ruapehu.
We have deliberately placed the Big Belly' bins alongside recycling bins to reduce the opportunity for recyclable material being compacted in amongst the waste.
While some people might think that the new compacting bins are pricey the extra volume and high tech features make them efficient, easy to manage and environmentally friendly.
The solar power runs the compactor, collects data, advises the operator when they need servicing and everything can be checked online.
As they hold a lot more and are only serviced when necessary it will reduce the bins cost of servicing especially for those in more remote locations, she said.
The Big Belly' bins are at the following locations:
- Taumarunui (2) - Northern Entrance and Ngā Huinga Cherry Grove
- Owhango (1) - Owhango Public Toilets, State Highway 4
- National Park Village (2) - Park and Ride Facility and Waimarino-Tokaanu Road (outside Macrocarpa Caf)
- Ohakune (4) - Ohakune i-SITE, The Junction (Mangawhero Terrace), CBD in Goldfinch Street and Carrot Park
- Tangiwai (1) - Tangiwai Reserve
- Waiouru (1) - public toilets, SH 1.
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