Council ramps up efforts to tackle recycling issues
Waipā District Council has ramped up its efforts to tackle a major recycling issue by hiring two full time staff to inspect the district’s recycling bins.
The two fixed-term positions will significantly increase the chances of finding and preventing serious contamination such as rubbish, used medical waste and food, from being collected in the recycling.
Contamination, which has been increasing since lockdown in 2020, costs Council and ratepayers over $40,000 per month to deal with.
Council roading operations team leader Jennifer Braithwaite said the cost of contamination far exceeded the cost of hiring two staff members and the positions were necessary.
“We, and many other councils across the country, are struggling to grapple with the extremely high levels of contamination.
“For months we have been asking residents to be mindful of what they are putting in their recycling bins and have been suspending services to properties who have serious contamination in their recycling on more than three occasions.
“Due to the continued high levels of contamination, we are following in the steps of other councils by employing full time inspectors.”
Currently, Council’s recycling contractor Metallic Sweeping carry out audits when they can. The two new positions will ensure bins are being checked more frequently.
Braithwaite said since starting, the staff have already prevented more than 199 contaminated recycling bins from being collected.
“The auditors are mainly focused on trying to find serious contamination. Where this type is found, we will be closely monitoring the properties and suspend their services if necessary.
“In less serious cases where non-recyclable items, such as plastics 3, 4, 6 and 7, which could be mistaken for recyclable items are found, auditors will take more of an educative approach.”
The auditors have begun inspections on recycling routes where contamination rates are highest before progressing to other routes across Waipā.
More information on the recycling rules in Waipā can be found at www.waipadc.govt.nz/recycling.
What is serious contamination?
Fabric | All clothing and textiles e.g. backpacks, handbags, rugs and bedding. |
Food scraps | Any type of food waste including meat, offal, fish and bones. |
Green garden waste | All organic garden waste e.g. grass clipping, logs, hedge trimmings. |
Rubbish | Bagged or loose household domestic waste. |
Electronic/scrap metal | Electronics (anything with a plug or a battery) e.g. cell phones, laptops, vacuum cleaners. Scrap metal items including raw metals and pots and pans. |
Sanitary wastes Medical & vet wastes Animal waste | Any items that are used for personal sanitation that are clearly not recyclable e.g. menstrual products, nappies. Any items used for the medical care of humans or animal e.g. sharps, fluid bags, tubing, bandages etc. Any animal poo or waste. |
Hazardous waste | Pesticides, oil, paint etc. |
Large plastics | Hard or soft e.g. deck chairs and pool lilos. |
Timber/rubble/concrete/building waste |
