Recycling collection put on hold
A ‘‘national shortage of drivers’’ and lingering Covid-19 infections have halted waste collection in three parts of the Waikato.
The issue was widespread, with councils informing residents there would be a two-week period without kerbside waste collection.
Matamata-Piako, Hauraki and ThamesCoromandel District Councils had all experienced disruptions.
Their contractor, waste collection company Smart Environmental, caters to both the North and South Islands.
Driver shortages and staff sick with Covid-19 are said to be the reason the company was unable to provide recycling and glass collection across the three districts.
With collection times running every fortnight, this would mean some households could be without waste collection for between two and four weeks.
Residents either had to wait until collection restarted or get rid of their own waste at a transfer centre.
About 1000 bins would be impacted across the three towns in the MatamataPiako District.
‘‘Due to a national shortage of drivers and a wave of Covid among staff, Smart Environmental have advised they cannot provide recycling and glass collection for the next two weeks,’’ the council said.
Matamata-Piako District Mayor Adrienne Wilcock said there was likely a driver shortage across ‘‘many sectors’’ not only rubbish and recycling.
She said it was frustrating and disappointing that the contractor could not provide the waste collection service, but it was ‘‘beyond their control’’.
‘‘It all has a flow-on effect,’’ Wilcock said.
‘‘Our recent issue with not having our recycling collected for a couple of weeks has a number of factors, one is the ongoing shortage of drivers, obviously there is still a wave of Covid-19 about and Smart
Environmental, their collection is being hampered with the closure of SH25A.’’
Thames-Coromandel District council also had no kerbside recycling collections for the rest of March.
But with their popular Beach Hop event taking place this week, they were expecting more waste than usual.
‘‘In relation to Beach Hop this week and the anticipated increase in rubbish and recycling material over this time, we can confirm that the Whangamatā transfer station will be operating under extended hours during the event,’’ ThamesCoromandel District Council said.
The arterial SH25A route, along with a collection of others in the Coromandel region, had been severely impacted by cracks, slips and under-slips following Cyclone Gabrielle, which had hindered access for collection trucks.
Trucks had to take detours, adding further delays.
‘‘Smart Environmental Limited (SEL) has advised that these two weeks of reduced services will allow time for their drivers infected with Covid-19 to rest and recover before returning to work . . . we appreciate your understanding and patience for our contractor at such a challenging time.’’
Hauraki District Mayor Toby Adams got wind of the driver shortage last minute, he said, which had made it a rush to inform residents.
Regular collection services were expected to recommence from April 1.
‘‘It impacts just about the entire district that gets a rubbish and recycling collection,’’ Adams said.
‘‘We’ve just put some mitigations in place, we’ve opened up the transfer stations an hour earlier, we’ve opened up transfer stations in Waihī . . . hopefully by April 1, things are back to normal.’’
Residents across the three districts are being asked to not place recycling wheelie bins or glass crates on the kerbside over the next two weeks but instead to take it to their nearest transfer station.
Smart Environmental and ThamesCoromandel District Mayor Len Salt have been approached for comment.