5 July 2005
Approval for Waitakere’s Vertical Composting Unit
Councillor Janet Clews (Chairperson of Finance and Operational Committee) Waitakere City Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone,
Councillor John Hague of the City and County of Swansea and Councillor Penny Hulse (Chairperson of City Development).
One of the largest cities in Wales is set to take a tip from Waitakere’s approach to recycling green waste.
Councillor John Haigh, Cabinet Member for Environment at the City and County of Swansea was impressed with Waitakere
City’s Vertical Composting Unit which produces stabilised compost/mulch*.
“Wales in general has a problem with waste, so much goes to landfill and in Swansea we have one of the best recycling
rates in Wales – 20 percent. But 80 percent goes to landfill. We can’t continue doing that. What I’m seeing here today
is a recipe for increased recycling of green waste,” says Councillor Hague.
An independent member of a 72-member council, Mr Hague is one of a 10-member cabinet. His Environment portfolio includes
coastal paths, marina berths, waste, technical services and planning.
At Waitakere’s Refuse Transfer Station, Mr Hague and three fellow Lions supporters Clarence Thorne, Geoffrey Clement and
Dr Paul Brookes were greeted by a trio of Waitakere councillors, Deputy Mayor Carolynne Stone, Councillor Janet Clews
(Chairperson of Finance and Operational Committee), Councillor Penny Hulse (Chairperson of City Development), Manager of
Solid Waste Jon Roscoe, representatives of VCU Technology Chairman Tony Gledhill and CEO Mark Templeton.
* The production of compost/mulch from green waste taken to the Refuse and Recycling Station is contracted to Perry
Waste Services. The product is a "stabilised mulch" - mulch which has gone through the initial composting process, but
has not yet turned to compost. It is stabilised in the sense that it will no longer generate heat.
ENDS