Auckland Council's trashing a plan to trial fortnightly rubbish collection - but the idea hasn't yet been removed from the picture.

The trial would've included 10,000 households in Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure, Tamaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth.

Of more than 5,000 submissions, 78 percent opposed the trial.

Councillor Daniel Newman says the possibility for fortnightly collection lives on in the current Waste Management Minimisation plan.

"Some of us were trying to permanently move the whole region to a weekly service next year when the matter comes up, and we'll have to consult on it then. it's very painful."

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