08 July 2008

Kerbside recycling arrives on the Kapiti Coast

Kapiti’s new kerbside recycling service will begin within three weeks, Kapiti Coast District Council announced today.

Around 22,000 recycling bins are being distributed to households starting this weekend, with collections to start the first week of August, Council’s Group Manager Assets and Services Gary Simpson says.

“Recycling is one of our most important contributions to a clean, strong and sustainable Kapiti Coast,” says Mayor Jenny Rowan. “This a fun and easy way all Kapiti residents can make a real difference to the state of our environment.

“Recycling is now common practice all over New Zealand, the Government is pushing for a commitment to zero waste by 2015 and as part of our Solid Waste Management Strategy our Council is committed to this as well,” she says.

“Up until now we’ve been sending 43,000 tonnes of waste to the Otaihanga Landfill every year – that’s almost a tonne for every man, woman and child in the District!

“We all want an environmentally friendly Kapiti Coast and we need to do a lot better. Recycling helps save money now and in the future, and it helps us to preserve natural resources,” she says.

Mr Simpson says recycling bins will be delivered over the next three weeks with the help of community groups, such as Otaki Surf Life Saving Club, Waikanae Lions and Waikanae Kindergarten. Once all households have received their bins, kerbside collections will begin in the first week of August.

With their bin, every household will receive an information sheet on what can and can’t be recycled, and a sticker to put on the bin. Residents can also find out more by visiting: www.recyclekapiti.co.nz

The service is a partnership between the Council and the three waste management companies already working in the district: Clean Green, Waste Management and Skip-e Bins. It will be funded through the sale of rubbish bags for waste that cannot be recycled, and the payments people make for bin hire from private contractors.

Rubbish bags will increase to a recommended retail price of $2.85 for both paper and plastic bags, but Mr Simpson expects residents will use fewer bags now they can separate their rubbish into recyclable and non-recyclable waste.

“The more you recycle, the fewer rubbish bags you will have to use,” he says.

The recycling centres in Paekakariki and Kenakena will close on August 31 and the Rimu Road Recycling Centre will close at the end of January 2009.

Details of the service include:

- Bins will be delivered to households in the next three weeks.

- Kerbside collection of bins will begin in August.

- The bins will be collected every week on the normal council rubbish collection day. They need to be out by 7.30am.

- Rubbish bags may be collected before the bin – there is no need to worry if the recycling is not collected until later in the day.

- All households in Council collection areas will be given a free bin but the bin remains the property of Clean Green. Residents are asked to keep their bin clean.

- If the bin is not big enough for a household or a family’s circumstances they can purchase another bin. Residents can have as many bins as they like – but after the first one they will have to pay for them.

- Only households designated as urban will receive a recycling service. Unless a rural household has an arrangement for collection with Clean Green, Skip-E Bins or Waste Management Ltd they should use the districtwide recycling depots at Otaihanga, Otaki or Waikanae.

- If recycling is not collected, or residents have any other questions, call the Council on

The items to put in the bin are:

Paper, newsprint and cardboard. Glass bottles and jars. Aluminium and steel cans and containers (up to 4 litre capacity). All plastic containers 1 to 7 and all supermarket bags and bread bags.

Items not accepted are:

Dirty or waxed paper, paper milk or fruit juice cartons (tetrapak). Window and pane glass, light bulbs, mirrors, drinking glasses, ceramics, kitchenware or ornamental glass. Dirty cans containing food waste. Film plastics, containers with food waste. Polystyrene including meat trays, hot drink cups and packaging.

- Only items placed in the bin will be picked up.

- Residents may wish to write their name and address on the bin in permanent marker.

ENDS

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