Hazmobile collection big success
More than 700 vehicles visited the 2007 Hazmobile collections in Hastings and Napier, where members of the public had
the chance to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other hazardous rubbish.
Hastings Waste Minimisation Officer Dominic Salmon said the Hazmobile was becoming a well-known event in Hawke's Bay
each year, with some home owners stockpiling hazardous waste for months in advance.
“It’s astonishing what some people have in their garden sheds. We had more than 500 fluorescent light tubes dropped off
in Hastings, and the team handling chemicals collected some quite potent and nasty materials which we’re glad to see
disposed-of properly.”
Mr Salmon said much of the hazardous waste would be recycled or processed to reduce its toxicity. Fluorescent tubes
would end up in Australia where the mercury they contain would be recovered, while some “persistent” chemicals would be
shipped as far as Belgium for specialist destruction. Waste paint would go to Otaki where it was recycled into the
Enviro Paint range of outdoor paints.
Exact figures on what was recycled should be available early next week.
ENDS