Size matters when it comes to rural recycling

Wanting to help more farmers move away from disposing of rubbish on their farms has led to some ‘outside the square’ thinking by Hastings District Council’s waste minimisation team - and it is finding great favour with rural residents.

Huge recycling containers are about to be distributed around six rural sites across the district, after a trial proved rural residents very keen to use a recycling service. Providing such a service at a distance of up to 55 km from the main urban area is believed to be a New Zealand first.

Historically, farmers have disposed of rubbish on the farm by burying or burning it.  Many do not do that anymore, but some may have to travel up to 90 kilometres to recycle their rubbish, says Hastings District councillor and farmer Tania Kerr.

“I’m buzzing about this. It’s of real benefit to our environment, our rural residents and it supports what our children are taught about recycling at school. And at $7 a year per rural property, you can’t get better value.”

Burying or burning rubbish is risky for people, livestock and the environment. Liquid from waste seeping into the ground and residue from burning contaminate land, air and water, and burning plastic gives off emissions which can seriously affect people’s health.

But attitudes have changed, with trials over the last two years in Hawke’s Bay showing rural residents are more than willing to recycle if they have the opportunity, said Mrs Kerr.

In fact setting up regular sized recycling wheelie bins at Maraekakaho and Tutira was so successful that for a permanent solution council has had to commission much larger bins, fifteen six metre shipping containers.

Having the bins especially made has allowed waste minimisation staff to configure them for best use – depending on where they are going to be placed and the time of year.

In the trial areas, the number of bottles and the colour of them, important for sorting, differed markedly from summer to winter. The holidaying crowds at Waimarama meant an influx of green bottles – well ahead of the amount of brown, said waste minimisation planner Angela Atkins.

Being able to re-size the compartments also means that all compartments can be filled at the same speed – saving costs on servicing.

To further ensure the scheme is financially viable contractors will not check them for emptying on a regular basis; rather “recycling champions” in each area will advise when the bin is nearing capacity. Contractors needed two or three days’ notice to schedule a pick, said Mrs Atkins.

That allowed council to really spread the net; placing bins as far away as Patoka, a 90 minute each way drive for the service truck. Heading south the furthest bin will be sited at Poukawa.

The $500,000 project had been part funded by national organisations, with grants from The Packaging Forum’s Glass Packaging Forum ($50,000) and Public Place Recycling Scheme ($10,000) and Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Coca-Cola Community Recycling Initiatives Grant ($25,000). The balance is covered by council’s share of the Waste Disposal Levy Funds. The running of the scheme is being paid for by a targeted rate this year of $7 a year on rural properties.

The rural communities which are being considered are; Waimarama, Poukawa, Maraekakaho, Pukehamoamoa, Patoka, Te Pohue and Tutira.  Some of the new bins are also being set up at the Havelock North Recycling Drop Off and the Black Bridge transfer station.

4 October 2017

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