Council Working With Trust To Ease Financial Pressure

At their meeting on Wednesday 15 December Council will decide on a proposal to increase funding to the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust which has been feeling financial pressure.

Council is proposing to change the way it funds the Trust. Rather than a lump sum payment, Council wants to target specific areas where funding is to be spent.

Council grants $210,000 to the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust each year. It is proposed to increase this to $230,000 provided through a mix of lump sum grants and ongoing funding for recycling. Council also supplies the Chelmer Street site to the Trust free of charge and has provided other one-off funding assistance. Council’s total contribution to the trust in 2010/11 is estimated at $330,000.

The change allows Council to protect the community investment in waste minimisation and provide value for the ratepayer.

Assets Group Manager Neil Jorgensen said, “Council is committed to working together with the Trust”. Council officers are working with the Trust to reduce costs and return to budget.

The Trust diverts waste material through the reuse shop and processes 1,400 tonnes of recyclables, and 400 tonnes of green waste annually.