BROMLEY WIDOW GETS THREE CONTRADICTORY RECYCLING LETTERS FROM SAME COUNCIL IN ONE WEEK

A Bromley household has received three separate letters from Christchurch City Council in nine days, each giving different instructions about the yellow bin. One is signed by a person the council now says doesn't work there.

Homeowner Maeve Sutcliffe, 71, laid the letters out on her kitchen table like exhibits at an inquest. The first, dated the 4th, said yellow bin was moving to Tuesdays. The second, dated the 7th, said it was now fortnightly. The third, dated the 11th, told her to return the bin to a depot or cop a $90 charge.

"I haven't shifted a wheelie bin since Gerald died," Sutcliffe said. "That was 2009. I rang the number on letter two. Got the number on letter three. He told me to ring letter one. Letter one rings out."

Neighbour Wiremu Clarke said he'd had two of the same letters but not the third, and was "operating on a hunch". He put his yellow bin out Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday last week. It was emptied on none of them.

A Christchurch City Council spokesperson said the letters were a "transition communication" and residents should "refer to the most recent correspondence". Asked how anyone was meant to tell which was most recent, the spokesperson did not answer. Asked about the signatory of letter three, one "K. Mahoney, Waste Solutions", the spokesperson confirmed no such person was on staff.

Reminds me of the rates notices in '74, except back then they only stuffed it up once per envelope. Sutcliffe's yellow bin remains on the kerb, containing one rinsed jar and a letter.