A survey taken at the Groynes and Spencer Park before Christmas indicated that while most visitors did not reject the idea of taking their own rubbish home, many were concerned that other people might not be so responsible. Council rangers, however, report no increase in litter since the bins were taken away in late January.

The parks concerned are the Groynes, Styx Mill, Spencer Park, Seafield Park, Bottle Lake Forest, Port Hills reserves,Travis Wetland,Taylors Mistake and Halswell Quarry Park. The aim is to make these large parks litter-free for people’s enjoyment, and to encourage recycling and waste reduction. "If park visitors take their picnic rubbish home with them, they are more likely to put items such as drink bottles, newspapers and cans into their recycling crates for collection at the kerbside, or to reuse some of them,” says Coastal Area Head Ranger Rodney Chambers.

“That way, there’s less wastage of resources, a reduction of waste to landfill, and the regional parks stay clean and attractive."