Residents who receive the kerbside collection service are now able to dispose of their glass during the COVID-19 lockdown, as the Council adjusts its rubbish and recycling service.

All recycling - including glass, will be collected and treated as rubbish throughout the lockdown, as the Council is unable to transport the recycling to sorting centres.

Rubbish, recycling and glass can therefore all be put into either the red or yellow wheelie bins for collection. The green glass crate will not be picked up, as this has to be done by hand.

"This lockdown has presented some challenges to the way we provide our essential services, but we are adapting as needed," Council Infrastructure Services Group Manager Neil McCann says.

"We want to ensure that while people are staying at home doing the right thing, that their rubbish and recycling continues to be picked up and isn't sitting around stockpiling on their properties.

"As of now, you can place all of your glass, recycling and rubbish into any of the two wheelie bins for collection. When self-isolation restrictions are eased and it is safe to do so, we'll revert back to our usual systems of separating these items into the corresponding bins and crates."

Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown adds that should people wish to hold onto their recycling until services return to normal, they are welcome to do so.

"If people can or do want their glass and recycling to be recycled, they can hold off putting it out until we start up the recycling service again."

Wheelie bins should be placed one metre apart at the kerb and not behind parked cars, power poles or other obstructions. The Envirowaste kerbside collectors are unable to handle the bins and move them into a better position to be picked up by the truck.

Residents who don't receive the kerbside collection service can continue to take bagged rubbish, recycling and glass to the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park between 1-5pm, Monday to Friday. All items are being treated as rubbish.​