Media Release

For immediate release

11 December 2020

Recycling issues delay pick-ups

KAWERAU residents have been experiencing delays in the collection of their recycling each week.

There are a number of reasons for this, including storm damage to the Kawerau District Council Transfer Station building in August 2020.

The initial damaged structure have been removed and made safe so that the rest of the building can be utilised. Damage to the building’s roof prompted a structural review of the entire building which is nearing completion. The initial assessment is that the damage is isolated and the rest of the building is safe to be used.

However, Council’s Engineering Manager Andre Erasmus says initial findings indicate it would be prudent to carry out strengthening of the building to prevent any future damage.

“We believe the damage was due to a number of factors including the bad weather and debris that was trapped in the guttering of the building which combined with the weight of the water.” 

To prevent any reoccurrence, the guttering has been removed which will avoid any further debris like leaf matter being trapped there in the future.

The damage has prompted changes to the recycling operation as the area of damage was where the cardboard was stored in the Transfer Station building.

As an active member of the WMINZ (Waste Minimisation Institute of New Zealand), the Kawerau District Council is also striving to recycle as much as it can collect.

However, due to the lack of dry storage for the cardboard recycling collections, the Council’s Recycling team has been sorting the recycling streams at the kerbside in order to deposit cardboard recycling directly to the collector.

“This is time consuming and slows down the collection process. This issue is exacerbated by increased volumes of recycling this year as well as high levels of contamination.”

Residents have noted this has meant collection times for their recycling crates have at times been much later in the day on the collection days of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. This is not ideal from a resident’s perspective, but also for our staff who have worked some long days.

Council attributes these delays to the following:

• Reduction of storage due to the roof damage of the Transfer Station building
• Sorting the recycling kerbside
• Increased volumes of recycling
• Ongoing contamination issues in the recycling crates 
• Staffing shortages

To remedy this Council has already advertised for two ‘runner’ roles for the team. The first position is to replace a current vacancy, and the second to assist with the increased amount of recycling.

Andre adds, “Council is considering alternative options to recycle glass and the additional position was created to allow processing of some recycling on site.”

To cover for the vacancy, Council has been using contractor services and the only additional cost will be the cost of one staff member’s salary.

Waste streams from the Kawerau District end up in various locations.

General waste collected in the 60 litre or 120 litre bins is eventually trucked to the Tirohia landfill.

Cardboard put out for recycling is diverted from the landfill and taken by Foote Bins which transports it to Oji Fibre Solutions Kinleith Mill in Tokoroa.

Contaminated cardboard (with food or other materials) has to be removed by hand and this is very time consuming. In addition, other contamination can pose health and safety risks to our staff which means the crate will be left unemptied. Residents are reminded to only place clean cardboard in the recycling.

Recycled plastics numbered 1 and 2 are transported to a recycling centre in Mount Maunganui as there is a market for these.

There are currently no markets for any other type of plastic (numbers 3-7) and residents are reminded not to place them in the recycling bins.

Greenwaste is collected in 240 litre bins and processed on site at the Kawerau Transfer Station. Council is also investigating other opportunities with greenwaste. 

Andre Erasmas represents Kawerau on WasteMINZ

Taking an active approach to waste minimisation has meant getting involved at a national level for Kawerau District Council’s Engineering Manager Andre Erasmus.

Andre was recently elected to the steering committee of the WasteMINZ (Waste Minimisation Institute of New Zealand). 

The steering committee comprises representatives from district councils and private enterprise. The group’s purpose is to contribute ideas and feedback with research, proposed legislation and to collaborate on industry best practice.

The steering group meet monthly and in line with their waste reduction goals, mostly meet ‘virtually’ via video conferencing. In addition, they have an annual forum.

“Representing many sectors, the steering group is a sounding board for the Ministry for the Environment and also a pipeline for disseminating information.”

Being one of the first Council representatives from the Eastern Bay region is a responsibility Andre doesn’t take lightly. He is passionate about the reduction of waste and repurposing of waste streams, which as an engineer means taking ideas and making them become tangible.

“A lot more than can be done if the issue is looked at with a ‘circle economy approach’ which incorporates manufacturers, consumers and the end use where waste can be reprocessed.”

There are chemical processes to convert plastics into diesel, but there are also mechanical opportunities such as turning glass into roading aggregate.

 “Kawerau is a small district and we have some immediate hurdles including the increasing costs of waste disposal - but waste reduction and reprocessing does offer opportunities including potential employment.”

“As well as the need to focus on reducing waste and changing our nature to dispose of things – we need manufacturers and businesses to change and that will come when consumers demand it.”

ABOVE: Kawerau District Council Engineering Manager Andre Erasmus at the Transfer Station in front of concrete that Council will use crush and re-use as aggregate.

ABOVE: The recycling building at the Kawerau Transfer Station was damaged which meant one entire bay has no roof cover. The storage area for cardboard is considerably less until the building is repaired.

ABOVE: Kawerau District Council Recycling Supervisor Peter Robertson oversees another load of cardboard being removed from the smaller storage area at the Recycling Centre.

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For more information, please contact Tania Humberstone, Kawerau District Council Communications Manager on 027 464 3785.