The parks involved are the Groynes, Styx Mill Conservation Reserve, Spencer Park, Seafield Park, Bottle Lake Forest Park, Port Hills reserves, Travis Wetland, Taylors Mistake and Halswell Quarry Park.

Plains area head ranger Barry Samson says the aim of the project is to enhance the special nature of the parks by making them litter-free, and to encourage recycling and waste reduction. “These areas have been developed over the years so that residents and visitors to Christchurch can enjoy nature on our doorstep.

“By clearing all these parks of rubbish we are, in effect, just catching up with other cities and major parks. For example, Auckland Regional Council, Parks Victoria in Melbourne and the Department of Conservation all encourage people to ‘pack it in, pack it out’ on their estates.

“Most Christchurch people value their natural environment and it makes sense not to spoil our otherwise pristine regional parks,” says Mr Samson.

“Some, including Bottle Lake, Travis and most of the Port Hills are practically bin-free already. Rubbish is not only unsightly, but it also causes other problems such as hygiene, smell, wasps and flies, dogs and rats. ”

In October the Council passed the resolution to remove bins from the nine parks. Parks, Gardens and Waterways Committee chairperson Carole Anderton told the Council that the plan was in keeping with Christchurch’s Garden City image.

“Let’s make the owners of the parks – Christchurch people – responsible for taking out their own rubbish, “ she said. “If Auckland can do it, then why haven’t we?”

In Christchurch in the past a contractor has emptied bins from the regional parks and taken the rubbish unsorted to the refuse stations. Barry Samson says that if people take their picnic rubbish home with them, they’re more likely to put items like drink bottles, newspapers and cans into their recycling crates for collection at the kerbside, or to reuse some of them. “This way, there’s less wastage of resources and a reduction of waste into landfill.”

Now the Council will be engaging a contractor to a lesser extent, to pick up the odd bits of rubbish discarded in the parks, and cleaning of the park grounds will be increased.

Mr Samson says the new system also enables the rangers to get on with what they do best – looking after the parks and educating their visitors, rather than tidying up around bins and worrying about rubbish contracts. He says doggy-do bins will not be removed from these parks or coastlines.

“Not everyone will embrace the idea initially,” says Mr Samson, who was involved with a similar initiative at Auckland Regional Council. “But with strong promotion and encouragement by the rangers on-site, after a year or two people will appreciate going to major parks that are clear of litter and the sight of bins. They can also feel proud about playing their part in reducing waste and recycling resources.”