Russell ready for a summer clean sweep

A community initiative to keep an iconic tourist hotspot tidy over summer is returning following its overwhelming success last year.

The pop-up and recycling centre is being installed at Russell Kororāreka Wharf for three weeks thanks to a joint effort from Resilient Russell Charitable Trust, the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board, Northland Waste, Citycare, and Hone’s Pizza Garden.  Sponsorship for the centre is being provided by the Far North District Council’s commercial arm, Far North Holdings Ltd, and the Kororāreka Russell Wharf Community Kaitiaki Trust.

The staffed centre will be located at the end of the wharf from Boxing Day until Sunday 19 January 2025 from 8am-11am and 2pm-5pm. This is an extension to last year’s event by five additional days and with split shifts to make it more convenient for boaties by providing the service at the start and finish of each day.

It will be a ‘user pays’ service for boaties that provides an alternative to having to travel to Ōpua and complements the summer rubbish barge run by Northland Regional Council. The service will take recyclables for free. It is hoped the temporary service will also encourage boaties to stop in at 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 the town’s litter bins to dispose of bottles, cans, cardboard, and other recyclable items. Those bins quickly become full and overflow despite being emptied several times a day by contractors during the peak summer season.

Refuse ambassadors will manage the pop-up and recycling centre thanks to funding support from Far North Holdings Ltd and the Kororāreka Russell Wharf Trust.

Northland Waste is supplying the bins free of charge and disposing refuse to landfill. Citycare will collect refuse bags from the wharf, while Hone’s Pizza Garden staff will take the recycling to the Transfer Station.

Bay of Islands–Whangaroa Community Board member Jane Hindle says last year’s successful initiative was appreciated by both boaties and the local community.

“We were stoked at how the community and boaties responded to the pop-up last year which is why we have extended this summer,” she says. “Minimising waste at source is the way to go, and we are looking forward to seeing locals and visitors getting back on board and recycling where they can.”