As Auckland Council rolls out its rates-funded wheelie bin system, our mission has been to find innovative solutions for customers whose needs may not be fully met by this service. With a bit of out-of-the-box thinking, we’ve introduced flexible service options that allow customers to make the most of their existing bins—whether by converting them to a convenient monthly garden waste collection or opting for EcoPay, where they only pay when their bin is put out.

This project has been a significant undertaking for our Auckland Econowaste team, requiring a tremendous effort across multiple departments. With more than half of our customers signing up for new service options, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure every household finds a waste collection plan that suits their needs.

From our dedicated call centre team, who have handled thousands of customer inquiries and guided people through their choices, to our hardworking bin swap crew — a stellar joint effort from the sales and operations teams — who have been on the ground ensuring a smooth transition, we've all pulled together to make it happen and ensure that no bin is left behind.

Thanks to these efforts, we’ve successfully converted thousands of customers onto flexible new plans, whether through EcoPay’s pay-per-collection model, continued weekly collection, or monthly garden waste service.

This transition has also provided valuable customer insights, helping us refine and enhance our services for the future.