'We'd love to know why': Council reveals what people put in greenwaste bins

A book on rugby great Tana Umaga, nappies, a bike helmet and a hubcap are among items discovered at Whakatāne District Council's greenwaste site. "To the person who threw away this iconic Tana Umaga book... We'd love to know why," the council said in a post to social media. "One thing we do know? It definitely shouldn't have ended up in your greenwaste bin." The "iconic piece of sporting history" was found alongside a plethora of items that "don't belong in greenwaste", the council said – including bags of household rubbish, nappies, clothing, a bike helmet, a sleeping bag, and a vehicle wheel cover. The items had been dumped in kerbside greenwaste bins designated for biodegradable garden material. "Greenwaste is collected to be composted but, when rubbish is mixed through, it contaminates the composting process," the council stated. "Every unwanted item has to be removed, creating extra work and extra costs. In some cases, contaminated loads can't be composted at all and have to be sent to landfill – costing ratepayers." Due to rising contamination in recycling and greenwaste bins, the Whakatāne District Council introduced <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/15/council-issues-183-bin-warnings-but-are-they-all-rule-breakers/" target="_blank">a three strikes system</a> at the beginning of July last year, with the threat of having the bins temporarily confiscated after two warnings. In this week's post, residents were called on to, "please help us keep greenwaste clean by only putting garden material in your greenwaste bin". The council added: "P.S. If you know the owner of this legendary Tana Umaga book, let us know. We'd love to reunite them with this piece of rugby history."