Recycling trailers a hit for rural residents
Service set up on a fortnightly rotation
Mobile recycling trailers have hit rural areas around the district. Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s new mobile recycling service visited BP Pongakawa and Omanawa Hall last Saturday and will be at Te Ranga School this Saturday from 9am-1pm. The visits will be fortnightly.
The new mobile recycling service is part of council’s commitment to make recycling more accessible for rural residents who can’t use kerbside recycling, and who live a long drive from the nearest recycling centre.
The service was trialled in July and August. Two recycling trailers visited the Pongakawa, Omanawa, Te Ranga and Whakamarama communities.
Residents were encouraged to bring in their recycling and share their thoughts on how the new service should run.
Feedback showed people preferred a Saturday morning drop off time, on a fortnightly roster, and at the same locations as the trial. The only site that hasn’t been included in the roster is Whakamarama, as most of the community have recently been added to the kerbside service.
Council resource recovery and waste team leader Ilze Kruis says she received positive feedback on the new service.
“People said, ‘please continue the service’, ‘we just love the service’, ‘this service covers everything I need’ and ‘brilliant set up — keep this going’.
“People from each community gave us valuable feedback that helped shape the mobile recycling roster. This service is for them and they’re really keen — it’s great to see.”
Like with any recycling service, contamination can be a problem so Ilze says: “Please rinse your recyclables, flatten your cardboard, and remove lids. And if you’re not sure, you can ask our council team member who will be with the trailers at all times.”
The trailers are limited by their capacity, so residents are asked to only take the equivalent amount that would fit in a kerbside recycling service wheelie bin and glass crate.
Large amounts of glass, and large items like fridge boxes will still need to be taken to recycling centres.
The mobile recycling trailers have been named Recyclosaurus Rex and Sustainabox, through a community naming competition.
The custom-built mobile trailers were funded through the Waste Minimisation Fund with support from the Glass Packaging Forum.