Changes to kerbside glass recycling
On March 1 2018 Waste Management NZ Limited (also operating as Environmental Green Bins) have decided to stop collecting glass in kerbside mixed recycling.
Waste Management are the major contractor in the solid waste space - servicing around 90 percent of our District.
All kerbside rubbish and recycling collection in the Western Bay of Plenty District is carried out by private contractors on a pre-paid basis. This is not a Council run service.
Most private contractors in the wider Western Bay of Plenty send their collected rubbish to one of the transfer stations in Tauranga or Mount Manganui.
Mixed recycling collected from the kerb is taken to Waste Management's Materials Sorting Facility at Te Maunga and general rubbish is then disposed of at landfills in Hampton Downs and Tirohia.
As a result of Waste Management's decision not to accept glass co-mingled with other recyclables at the sorting facility, private contractors will not be able to present co-mingled recycling with glass included to the plant.
Residents who use private waste contractors should contact their operator as to whether alternative glass disposal options will be provided, or if they would like to discuss the matter or make a comment or complaint.
Waste Management says the reason for the change is that recycling glass is a safety risk and health hazard to staff; is commercially unsustainable and counter-productive in diverting waste from landfill.
After March 2018, Waste Management will continue to collect general waste and sorted recycling kerbside bins from residential and commercial customers.
Waste Management proposes to introduce bins for better communities' where Waste Management will put glass-only recycling bins throughout the community. Participating schools and community groups will be paid for recyclable glass collected from purpose-built bins on their premises.
Council is not involved in the bins for better communities' project.
Waste Management has a list of locations on their website where glass can be dropped-off.
What can Council do?
In the mid-nineties, Council made the decision to allow the provision of waste services (including recycling and composting) to be managed by the private sector.
This was based on an opinion at the time that the private sector could provide waste collection and disposal services better than we could.
Our current involvement in waste services includes the provision of community recycling and green waste facilities (see locations and opening hours below), public refuse bin collections, fly-tipping clean up and abandoned vehicle collection.
However, Council's adoption of its Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) is focused on an effort to reduce the amount of waste to landfill.
This involves investigating alternative recycling and rubbish collection models to achieve better oversight and management of solid waste and recycling throughout the District.
The issue of glass collection will be part of this discussion.
This work will require a detailed business case and analysis of options to be prepared - any change to the collection model may mean a significant change in levels of service.
Once complete we'll present the options back to the community for feedback, along with the costs.
If this is something you support, or want to see happen in the Western Bay of Plenty District let us know! We need your feedback. Please email customer.service@westernbay.govt.nz with your thoughts.
Council run recycling centres
Council has recycling centres across the District that will continue to accept glass at Athenree, Katikati and Te Puke. Their opening hours are:
Athenree: 64 Steele Road, Athenree
- Thursday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm
- Saturday: 9.00am - 12 noon
- Sunday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Katikati: Corner Tetley/Wills Road
- Thursday: 9.00am - 12 noon
- Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm
- Sunday: 9.00am - 12 noon
Te Puke: 36 Station Road, Te Puke
- Tuesday: 9.00am - 3.30pm
- Thursday: 9.00am - 3.30pm
- Saturday: 8.00am - 4.00pm
The public can also use Tauranga City transfer stations (Maleme Street and Te Maunga) for their glass recycling.
