Council debates glass recycling service

City councillors are being pushed into a glass recycling decision. Photo: File.

The decision by Waste Management to cease its kerbside glass collection in Tauranga is pushing the council into setting up its own glass recycling service.

At a council meeting on today, councillors are being asked to approve a fortnightly glass re-cycling service that could begin as early as August or September.

The council was already looking at taking over the glass recycling before the Waste Management decision.

In the Long Term Plan public consultation hearings beginning in ten days' time, the city council is consulting ratepayers on a council controlled city wide re-cycling programme, but if approved that will not take effect until 2020.

Councillors are deciding to seek public approval for a fortnightly glass collection costing an estimated $1.1 million or $16 per household.

Waste Management ceased its kerbside glass collection on March 1. The decision to stop accepting mixed glass at their Materials Recovery Facility at Te Maunga affects all private waste service providers offering a recycling service to customers.

It means about 6000 tonnes of glass each year will need to be managed by individual households.

Faced with the likelihood that thousands of tonnes of glass will simply be tossed into domestic rubbish, council staff are recommending the council go ahead with the recycling venture.

'If Council is not seen to be taking any action in response to this private sector decision, there are likely to be negative environmental and reputational impacts,” says growth and infrastructure general manager Christine Jones.

'Based on discussions on social media, many people have cancelled their recycling service with private companies stating that glass makes up most of what they recycle.”

The council has adopted a vision of ‘Minimising Waste to Landfill'.

'Glass is an infinitely recyclable material that should not end up in landfill from our city,” says Christine. 'Council staff have been working on a suitable response to achieve this vision in light of the private sector's decision not to collect glass. Staff believe that there is a way to collect glass from the kerbside that results in a completely recyclable product.”

The average Waste Management customer has a 240 litre recycling bin emptied fortnightly, with glass making up 20 per cent or more of volume of the bins, which equates to about 48 litres of glass per fortnight.

Council is looking at providing a 45 litre crate, fitting with a fortnightly collection, and reducing the risk of overflowing bins - which will not be collected for health and safety reasons.

Waste Management customers are very disappointed in the decision and customers have told council staff by phone email and social media they will cancel their recycling service with waste management and put everything in the rubbish, or recycle at the transfer stations.

If the council does decide to get into kerbside glass collection as recommended, the next step is to invite submissions from the waste service providers to commence a service ‘subject to approval via the LTP process'.

A start will depend on availability of trucks and glass crates.

Waste Management told city council staff in November 2017. Since then the city council has spent $30,000 installing a new recycling bay at Maleme St and $25,000 increasing the drop off area at Te Maunga and $35,000 on increasing the glass storage bunker area at the Te Maunga Transfer Station.

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6 comments

Corporate bullies

Posted on 07-03-2018 12:59 | By Johnney

They dont want to collect glass because their large trucks smash bottles when emptying bins. They would rather us take the glass to the transfer station which they control, sort it for them and basically donate the glass for free so they can onsell for a bigger profit.


M.Mouse

Posted on 07-03-2018 13:25 | By M. Mouse

How about council places big bins at the bigger supermarkets 1 for white glass 1 for green and one for brown simple I think


Poorly handled

Posted on 07-03-2018 14:01 | By The Sage

This whole arrangement has been very poorly handled. A fortnightly glass recycling bin starting as early as September is hopeless. People need another alternative now not September or 2020. How do people who are older, infirm, or do not have transport, deal with their glass now, not in 6 months time. This is going to create a whole raft of other problems. People will start putting their bottles in bins at public places like at the beach or outside shopping areas. Alternatively people may go and dump their bottles directly outside the Council premises and let them deal with them. The whole thing is ludicrous and needs immediate remedying.


@ Mouse

Posted on 07-03-2018 15:34 | By MISS ADVENTURE

That answer is all to simple, how could all the in-mass numbber of consultants "feast" off Ratepayers, wash your mouth out and start again PS the only acceptable solution will be the most rediculously expensive version you can find then at least double it.


Something wrong here

Posted on 07-03-2018 15:37 | By CC8

Christine Jones maths are different to the norm.. 20% of the bin volume does not match up with consumers saying that glass is "most of what they recycle". Council should get rid of the expensive Waste Managenment corporate system look at the award winning system that Innovative Waste Kaikoura /Kaikoura Council has devised for the whole of rubbish and recycling. They have reduced everything going to landfill by 75% and rising. They have won international environmental awards.http://www.innovativewastekaikoura.com/our-story.htmlChristine Jones should call the Mayor of Kaikoura ,Winston Grey, and arrange for a few lessons.


It’s time.....

Posted on 07-03-2018 16:32 | By waiknot

Its time for council to readdress whats it core activities are.


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