Crikey! What happened to summer? We don’t know about you, but we’d like a refund, thank you very much. If you’ve been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, you might be wondering what to do with the debris she’s left in her wake – we’re here to help.
It’s been raining cats and dogs out there (definitely not in the fun, adopt-a-puppy kind of way), and if you’ve been affected by the Auckland floods, our hearts go out to you. We’re Aucklanders too, and we know that it’s been a rough ride. Thankfully, it looks like we’re over the worst of it, but now you might be left feeling overwhelmed by the mammoth task of how to clean up Gabrielle’s mess, and begin the process of returning to normality after the storm.
Cleaning Up After the Auckland Floods
Understandably, rubbish collection was probably the last thing on your mind while Cyclone Gabrielle was visiting Auckland, with the evacuations, power outages, road closures, and safety concerns. Still, now, you might have flood-damaged belongings, waterlogged trash, and wet household waste that needs to be cleaned up, and you might have even lost your Auckland Council issued rubbish collection bins, just to add insult to injury!
Thankfully there are options.
Before we get into that, whichever option is best for you, please keep in mind that flood-damaged rubbish does pose a risk to you and your loved ones. Remember to wear gloves, and appropriate clothing when handling rubbish to minimise contact, and cover any cuts you may have, to avoid infections. It’s important to have flood-damaged rubbish collected from your home, because it could be growing mould and fungi, which can cause serious health problems. If mould has already begun to grow on the waste you’re moving, it’s best practice to wear a mask.
If you’re uninsured
If you don’t have insurance, the Auckland Council has set up transfer stations around the city where you can bring your rubbish to be disposed of, and it’s free. Auckland Council is also operating an emergency rubbish collection service, for those that missed collection days, so check out their website to see when your next collection is scheduled. If your bins have gone for a swim, and you can’t locate them, or they’ve been damaged, and you need new rubbish collection bins, you can also talk to the Auckland Council about that, and they’ll help you get back to normal.
If you have large quantities of rubbish, or limited access to transport and the council collection, or waste transfer stations are not a realistic option for you and the council is unable to help, why not give us a call? We have a range of options to suit different budgets, and you may even be eligible for WINZ assistance.
If you’re insured
If you do have insurance, it’s even easier! It’s a good idea to take photos of the damage before you begin your cleanup, as your insurance company may ask for them. While you can still use the waste transfer stations, and rubbish collection, you may also have the option to dispose of your rubbish from your home with the help of a Pink Bin, or Pink Bag. You can pop your rubbish right into the bin or bag, let us know, and we’ll come to collect it for you, so you can leave this chapter in your rear vision mirror ASAP.
You’ll need to talk to your insurance provider first, but after that, in most cases, we can liaise with them for you, so you don’t even have to think about passing on invoices, or retaining any information – we know you’ve got plenty on your mind as it is.
No matter which option you choose, it’s still best practice to separate rubbish for collection where possible, so that it can be disposed of responsibly. When you contact us, we may need to ask a few questions about the rubbish you’d like collected, to ensure we send you the right bin or bag, please bear with us, it shouldn’t take more than two ticks of a lamb’s tail, and it helps us to do the right thing by mother nature, even if she has been a bit of a d**k to us lately.
Hazibags
If you know that you have asbestos or other hazardous rubbish to dispose of in the wake of Gabrielle, let us know. It’s no trouble at all; we have hazibags – so we can help you out fast, without the huge price tag and we can make sure to collect your waste safely, and minimise any risk to you, your neighbours, and our awesome team.
While rubbish collection is a crucial part of moving forward after the Auckland floods, once you’ve had your rubbish collected, and removed any standing water, you may want to look at ways to reduce moisture inside of your home. Some of your belongings may still be damp, so it’s important to dry them out before any mould grows (if it does, sadly, it probably needs to be tossed too). Letting the sunshine in, opening up the doors and windows whenever you can, and running a dehumidifier may help.
If this all seems a bit overwhelming and you’d like to know more about how we can help you clean up after the Auckland floods, you might like to check out our FAQs, or, just give us a buzz, and we’ll help you to determine what the best course of action is for your situation. Please note that we are experiencing an increased demand for our services right now so, if you can’t get a hold of us straight away, know that we’ll be doing our best to get back to you as quickly as we can.
We know how much Cyclone Gabrielle has sucked. But us Kiwis are tough cookies, and we’ll get through this, together.