Thames-Coromandel District Council collecting empties until midnight

The party is over – TCDC’s leniency over huge volumes of kerbside recycling left out over Christmas and New Year dries up on Wednesday (January 9) when only recyclables in official green bins will be collected.



Streetsmart workers were out until midnight on New Year’s Eve collecting recyclables because of the sheer volumes left by residents and the extra time required to sort bottles and cans left in incorrect containers such as plastic bags.



“Every time we have to deal with recyclables that are left in plastic bags, we’re delayed by two or three minutes. When you multiply that across the district, it causes a big delay,” said a Streetsmart worker.



There is also an increased risk to workers of glass cuts when people put large amounts of glass bottles in big plastic rubbish sacks for the workers to reach into.



Kerbside collections of recyclables were put back by a day in Tairua as contractors struggled to keep up with the sheer volume. The collection truck had to return to the refuse transfer station to empty its load every kilometre or so and in some places around the peninsula, trailer loads of empties were left outside homes.



TCDC Operations Manager Greg Hampton said a special agreement was negotiated at extra cost with contractors Streetsmart to collect any increased volumes that may have been deposited outside of official green bins. However this arrangement had to end and any recyclables left outside of green bins would not be collected after Tuesday January 8th.



“From Wednesday, all recyclables except paper and cardboard must be put in official green bins only and recyclables in excess of green bin quantities should be taken direct to refuse transfer stations,” he said.



There are 24hr drop-off facilities at refuse transfer stations and all recyclables are accepted free of charge. People are reminded not to put broken glass, ceramics or blue glass bottles in their recycling bins but to wrap it carefully and place it in their rubbish.



Residents are entitled to two green bins free of charge, with additional bins costing $11 each.

Green recycling bins are available from TCDC offices and refuse transfer stations.