Recycling trial gathers momentum

Residents may have been slow to adapt to the kerbside recycling trial at Kerikeri and Waipapa in the first two weeks, but since then the volumes had increased dramatically, Far North District Council Development & Planning Manager Stephen Cooper said today

"Six weeks into the trial the total volume has not quite reached the levels previously experienced at the old recycling centre in Cobham Road. However indications are that more and more people are taking advantage of the kerbside collection and the figures are expected to continue to grow.

"The contractor is currently picking up over 10 tonnes of recyclables from Kerikeri and Waipapa each week," he said.

The slower initial response could be explained by the fact the Cobham Road drop-off facility was still operational for the first two weeks of the kerbside recycling trial, and by the fact there was initially an element of confusion over the availability of recycling bags.

The council had been assured teething problems which resulted in confusion over supply points and the availability of bags had now been resolved and the way the trial was now progressing was "very encouraging."

It was still "early days" and there would continue to be fine-tuning of the new kerbside initiative in consultation with the contractor, Waste Works Ltd.

Waste Works Managing Director Warwick Taylor said his company was prepared to extend the collection area if the demand was there and if it was practical and cost effective to do so. In fact some extensions had already been implemented.

"If the Kerikeri trial proves a success, we will discuss with the council the possibility of extending kerbside recycling to areas such as Paihia and to other areas where there are existing commercial kerbside refuse collections," he said.

"The company has listened to concerns raised by businesses at Kerikeri about paper and cardboard and we hope to be able to announce an alternate commercial collection point within the next few weeks," Mr Taylor said.

He said there had also been concerns raised that the 40-litre plastic recycling bags were too small to take newspapers and cardboard.

"You don't have to put cardboard and newspapers in the recycling bags. As long as it is tied so that it doesn't blow down the street, household bundles can be placed next to the recycling bag and it will be collected.

"The bags have been confined to 40-litres in volume for two reasons. Firstly, this is the maximum size that can be safely lifted by collection staff under Occupational Safety & Health regulations assuming the bag is filled with glass bottles. Secondly, if the bag is filled with glass, it's probably the maximum weight that the user can safely carry without the danger of the bag splitting open.

"People can put out as many recycling bags as they need to –the collection is not confined to one bag per household," he said.

Mr Taylor said his company was discussing with the council other options such as the possibility in future of using crates or bins. However these would be substantially more expensive options.

"There have been a few objections to paying $1 for recycling bags. Having a kerbside collection at your gate is still more convenient than having to sort and transport the recyclables to a Transfer Station or a single collection point," he said.

An issue had also been raised with the use of plastic bags. However the recycling bags used were made from recycled plastic and were also recyclable.

""This is a trial which is being constantly monitored by both council and contractor to determine the best possible service which can be provided at the least possible cost for the future," he said.