Rubbish from lockdown still flowing

The evidence is in the recycling bins and rubbish bags: Palmerston North people spent lockdown getting rid of junk.

The city council had to stop accepting and sorting recycling at its Awapuni plant during Covid19 alert level 4, and the contents of kerbside recycling bins went to landfill along with the rubbish.

Chief infrastructure officer Tom Williams said during lockdown, 395 tonnes of recycling was dumped. The total amount of rubbish and recycling collected in April was up 13 per cent on April the year before.

‘‘There was a lot of anecdotal evidence ... that people used the lockdown period to clean their homes and properties, and this is clearly represented.’’

Other people started the cleanup even before lockdown kicked in, with last-minute dumping at the Ferguson St recycling centre discovered on the first morning of level 4 restrictions at the end of March.

Some people had a backlog of recycling material and garden waste to get rid of once restrictions eased at the beginning of level 3.

There were large increases in the quantities being dropped off at the end of April.

But while most people held off and waited until the drop-off points were open again, others developed some bad habits.

Knowing the contents of recycling bins would be sent to landfill, some residents started using their bins for general waste. When the plant re-opened, there was a significant amount of rubbish being delivered in the recycling bins.