Media statement: Monday 3 November

The three Wairarapa Councils and waste management contractor Earthcare are encouraging residents to minimise waste these holidays and remember the two-recycling crate rule.

The current arrangement between all three Wairarapa Councils and Earthcare is to only collect two recycling crates from each household within the collection area until wheelie bins are introduced in mid-2019. Wheelie bins will increase urban kerbside recycling capacity by 50 percent.

Wairarapa Zero Waste coordinator Jo Dean says this is a great time of the year to reinforce the positive message of waste minimisation.

“The holiday period typically results in households generating a lot of excess waste, taking a zero waste approach at this time of year is not only beneficial for our environment, but lessens the demand on our waste management contractor when collecting kerbside waste and recycling.”

This reminder comes following a busy 2017/18 holiday period, where contractors had to work extra hours to collect excess kerbside recycling. Solving this issue resulted in Councils asking the contractor to tighten up on the two recycling crate rule.

“The reinforcement of the rule caught our kerbside recycling customers off guard; although two crates are all the contractors are required to collect, we should have communicated this earlier to allow residents to start thinking about what to do with their excess recycling.”

Ms Dean encourages residents to start planning now towards a zero waste holiday period.

“It takes a few conscious steps in the right direction, and there are plenty of resources available to help people make the right choices. It could be as simple as separating out plastic and cardboard from gifts and using the cardboard in your household compost instead of going in your recycling crate.”

Although Ms Dean’s role is to encourage waste minimisation, she understands that even with the best intentions households will still be facing excess volumes of waste and recycling at this busy time of year.

“If you do have too much recycling to fit in your crate we can take it free of charge at any one of the transfer and recycling stations throughout the Wairarapa, or keep it aside and save it for your next collection day.”

For transfer and recycling station hours, please visit your local Council’s website.

ENDS

Media contact

Amy Wharram
027 252 2863