Street recycling initiative now operational

The Far North's first purpose-designed street recycling bins were installed in town centres at Doubtless Bay, Paihia and Russell this week.


The bins are part of the government’s Recycling in Public Places initiative which aims to encourage recycling in public places. The Far North was one of four local authorities selected by the Ministry for the Environment to participate in a pilot scheme.


The initiative was officially launched by Eastern Community Board chair Paul Gorringe and Ministry for the Environment project manager for the Recycling in Public Places Initiative Caroline Read at Paihia yesterday.


The pilot bins are installed at the Cable Bay Beach Reserve, Scout Park at Mangonui, the Village Green at Paihia and at the Russell Wharf.


The bins are marked to take specific recyclables such as aluminium cans and glass and plastic bottles and containers. They can be recognised by their ‘Love NZ – Recycle with care’ brand.


Locations which traditionally have attracted high visitor numbers have been selected for the bins to enable the best possible assessment to be made of the success of the pilot programme.


However local residents also have a significant part to play in encouraging and promoting the correct use of these facilities. The success or failure of the pilot will determine whether or not the initiative is expanded to town centres and high profile visitor locations across the rest of the Far North.


The street recycling bins are designed as a convenience for visitors and locals alike, to augment existing recycling facilities at Refuse Transfer Stations and the new Resource Recovery Parks currently under development.