30 June 2008

High-tech recycling equal to the world's best

Starting today Auckland and Manukau's recycling will be sorted at the most advanced facility in the southern hemisphere.

The new facility at Onehunga is designed and operated by Visy Recycling. It uses an array of high-tech screening techniques and optical sorting devices to separate and recover the recyclable materials. Known as a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), it is initially capable of sorting up to 80,000 tonnes of recyclables per year.

The sorting facility is part of a new recycling service for Auckland and Manukau that sees recycling collected fortnightly in recycling wheelie bins. Residents can put a wider range of recycling into the wheelie bin, including paper and cardboard.

Residents are encouraged to check the calendar that came with their bin or the council website to find out their new recycling day

Manukau City Council City Form and Environment Portfolio Leader Sharon Stewart says the new service is a significant step for recycling in New Zealand.

"Manukau and Auckland have almost 20 per cent of the country's population. With our residents recycling more, we will make a major contribution to the country's efforts to reduce waste.

"The aim of the new service is to make it easier for people to recycle more. We expect recycling volumes to increase by 15 to 25 per cent," Cr Stewart says.

Auckland City Council City Development Committee chairperson Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the leading edge facility will play a significant role in reducing waste going to landfill.

"So much of what currently goes to our landfills could actually be recycled.

"We expect that the new facility will greatly increase the amount that people recycle because it will make it easier to do. From today, you can put everything, including paper and cardboard, into the one bin. It couldn't be much simpler."

Visy Recycling's New Zealand GM Michael Franks says that Visy is proud to join with the Manukau and Auckland councils in bringing the world's best technology to recycling here in Auckland.

"The design of the new Onehunga facility is based on our years of experience in the Australian and US markets, but without the vision of the two council partners this quantum leap would never have occurred," he says.

About the new recycling service

Auckland and Manukau residents should now start using their new recycling wheelie bins and remember recycling collections will now be fortnightly.

Residents are encouraged to check their recycling and rubbish collection days on the calendar that came with their recycling wheelie bin or at www.manukau.govt.nz/recycling or www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/rubbishandrecycling .

A wider range of recycling can go into the wheelie bin. This includes paper and cardboard, plastic containers and bottles numbered 1 to 7, tins and cans, glass jars and bottles, clean aluminium foil trays/plates and empty aerosols.

No rubbish, plastic bags, kitchen or garden waste can be put in the recycling wheelie bins. Bins will be checked and not collected if anything other than recycling is put in them.

Note to editors: High resolution photos of the recycling sorting facility available on request.

ENDS

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