$50,000 solution for overflowing bins

A popular but under pressure recycling station has been given a $50,000 shot in the arm to expand its capacity and increase the number of drop-off days.

Upper Hutt’s recycling station, which is open three days a week, will have its hours at least doubled from July following a funding boost allocated under Upper Hutt City Council’s Long Term Plan.

Since beginning a 12-month trial period just over a year ago, the station has been pushed beyond bursting point on several occasions. Users caught out by the limited drop-off days also began dumping material at the site when shut.

Overflow and dumping was particularly bad during the Christmas-New Year period when people wanted to dispose of their recycling before going on holiday.

Council operations director Geoff Swainson said the response to the station had exceeded the council’s expectations and the $50,000 boost was a direct response to demand.

‘‘Demand exceeded capacity. It has done that periodically [since opening] and that’s what’s driven the decision to increase the capacity.’’

The station was criticised less than a week after it opened for being too small to cater for users’ needs when the container began overflowing.

Though the council’s Long Term Plan consultation document stated the station would be open six days a week from July, Swainson said they were aiming to have it open every day.

A second receptacle – a converted shipping container identical to the existing one – would be added. The layout of the station would also need to be changed and its overall footprint would increase.

Swainson said material was collected every second day and there was no plan to change this, though the council may re-examine collection frequency depending on demand. SATURDAY 31ST MARCH, 10AM – 2PM SATURDAY 31ST MARCH SATURDAY 31ST MARCH