Bin police on waste beat
Bin police are now doing the rounds to crack down on crimes against recycling.
Waipa¯ District Council has upped the ante on those chucking out waste with their recycling, a problem likely to cost ratepayers nearly $500,000 a year to clean up.
Two fulltime bin inspectors have been hired to find and prevent contaminants such as rubbish, medical waste and food heading to the district’s recycling centre in Te Awamutu.
Every time waste enters the recycling centre, work has to stop and the facility is cleaned, an exercise which now costs about
$40,000 a month.
The council’s roading operations team leader, Jennifer Braithwaite, said the cost of contamination far exceeded the cost of hiring the two bin inspectors.
She said all councils were struggling to weed out contaminants from recycling, a trend which kicked off during the
Covid-19 alert levels when people began to clear out their properties.
In March, the council suspended recycling services to 25 properties after contamination was repeatedly found inside recycling bins.
The council’s recycling contractor, Metallic Sweeping, carried out audits of recycling bins when it could.
The new staff would ensure bins were checked more frequently.
Braithwaite said the new bin inspectors had 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.’’
Metallic Sweeping shed foreman Rob Hamblin, who is based at the recycling centre, recently went out with one of the bin inspectors and described the experience as ‘‘an eye-opener’’.
They inspected about 170 bins and put warning stickers on 55.
‘‘To give you an example, we found a big tray of rotten, raw chicken legs sitting on top of one recycling bin.
‘‘At another bin we found a toilet seat and toilet brush and then later, a metal baking tray.’’
Hamblin said it was ‘‘blatant’’ misuse of the recycling service while other situations just needed a bit of education, especially around the types of plastics that could be recycled.
‘‘Having been out there for just one day, it’s hard going for the two women who are inspecting those bins. It’s cold in the mornings, it is unsavoury, dirty work.’’
Hamblin said if people were unsure what they could put into the recycling bins, call the council
Two fulltime bin inspectors have been hired to find contaminants.
for advice.
People could also look up the council’s recycling page on its website.
Neighbouring Matamata-Piako District Council also reported challenges facing its recycling service.
Communications officer Rexine Hawes said the council had no plans to suspend services but its contractor was putting in a bin inspector too.
Hawes said the contamination caused problems for the council’s material recovery facility at Kopu.
‘‘Contamination is getting caught in the sorting screens, holding up machinery and causing delays.
‘‘These items include plastic bags, textiles, hoses, bras and cabling.’’