COVID-19 precautions at Western Bay recycle centres

Western Bay’s three recycling centres and its greenwaste facility will be limiting access for customers until further notice from Saturday 21 March, to protect staff and users from COVID-19 risk.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council will have staff at the gates of the three recycling centres at Katikati, Athenree and Te Puke and at Omokoroa’s greenwaste site to limit the number of customers in the centres at any one time.

Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill says measures in place at each centre will include traffic management of customers entering each site; strict adherence to the two-metre social separation distance and rubber gloves will be worn by centre operators in all handling of recycle products and cash at the facilities.

Customers are asked not to attend the centres if they are sick in any way – and if possible to stockpile their recycling goods for drop-off at a later date.

“Please don’t be offended if you are asked to wait to enter the premises or if our attendants wear rubber gloves to handle cash transactions,” says Kelvin.

“These precautions are all part of Council’s COVID-19 measures that are in place across all Council departments and processes until further notice to protect our staff and our community.

“Please respect the requirements if you use the recycling centres as these measures are in place to keep everyone safe.”

The restrictions will be in place at all opening hours at the three centres until further notice.

Council’s fortnightly rural recycling trial programme at BP Pongakawa will remain open as usual tomorrow without any restrictions.

For more information on Council’s COVID-19 prevention measures visit: https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/community/covid-19