Recycling habits are improving but can still get better in the Ashburton District.

Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan said there were still plenty of yellow bins “in bin jail” in Methven, and questioned whether the situation required another round of education for the community as to what can be recycled.

Infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said the number of bin confiscations had halved in the district and issues in Methven were a seasonal anomaly.

During the ski season there was a much higher number of bins not collected and removed, he said.

“Ashburton District’s recycling behaviour is currently holding quite steady.”

The council introduced kerbside monitoring in 2020, with numbers showing a gradual improvement.

The current watch list has 211 on a first strike pullback - when a bin is not collected and a tag is placed on the bin to explain why, McCann said.

There are 39 on a second strike and 74 have had a third strike and their bin confiscated.

“Having 74 confiscated [indicates] that things are improving as we were closer to 150 at one stage.”

By Jonathan Leask