Auckland Council is removing almost a third of rubbish bins around the region to save $9.5 million over the next eight financial years.   

Meanwhile, the council spent almost $147,000 dollars on a sculpture at the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway in November last year, two months before removing a bin. 

Auckland Council chair of revenue expenditure Maurice Williamson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This has got to be the greatest example of a policy that was good in theory, and has been a disaster in practice.” 

Williamson said “About 30 percent of the bins weren’t being used, or had an alternative bin nearby.” 

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