Creating the recycling system Hutt City deserves
Creating the recycling system Hutt City deserves
People living across the Hutt will
benefit from a modern and fit for purpose kerbside recycling
system under a plan announced by Hutt City Mayoral candidate
Campbell Barry today.
“If I’m elected Mayor I will
urgently progress work to establish a modern kerbside
recycling system in Lower Hutt,” Campbell Barry
said.
Every residential and rural property will
receive two wheelie bins - one for glass and one for
plastics, tin and cardboard. This is a similar system to
other cities, including established systems in Wellington
and Dunedin and the system recently rolled out in Porirua.
Campbell Barry said that the issues with kerbside
recycling in Lower Hutt are well known and have long been an
issue for local people.
“Any family using the
current green crate system will tell you that they don’t
provide the capacity needed. As a consequence too much
waste is going to landfill, or directed to community
recycling stations which are already at
capacity.”
Under the current system, it isn’t
unusual to see streets covered in milk bottles and pizza
boxes on recycling day if it’s windy.
“The new
wheelie bins would come with lid latches, which will offer
far better protection in Lower Hutt’s often windy
environment”
The proposed system will also include
work to boost recycling in schools and support in-school
programmes to minimise waste.
“I’m proud to
announce that if I’m elected Mayor, Hutt City Council will
provide free recycling to every primary and intermediate
school across our city. We will also increase funding for
the Enviroschools programme, which encourages sustainability
and waste-minimisation efforts.
“It’s important
for Council to get the basics right, and recycling is an
example where it is currently falling well short of the
mark.
“Instead of funding free meals for elected members,
or underwriting losses of private
businesses, a Council I lead will focus on core services
and issues that will make the lives of people in our City
better.
“Improving Hutt City’s kerbside recycling
system will have a positive impact on our environment, and
it is something which Council can do quickly. It’s time
we join cities across New Zealand who have had modern
kerbside recycling schemes for some years,” Campbell Barry
said.
The proposed system will extend services to
rural communities, and focus on providing alternatives for
properties with difficult access for wheelie
bins.
Notes to editors:
How
much will it cost?
• Estimated total cost of $2.8m a
year. This is based on $76 per household (based on Porirua
City Council’s scheme annual cost of $76 per
dwelling).
How will it be funded?
• A mixture
of targeted costs (these are currently in place for the
crate system) and revenue from the Silverstream Landfill
(current average $6 million annual
profit).
Primary/Intermediate School
Initiative:
• Including schools in the kerbside
system would incur a relatively low cost (due to scale of
Hutt City Council’s contracting power).
Recycling in
Hill Suburbs, areas with limited street access, and for
people with disabilities?
• Alternative options will
be explored and provided to enable recycling in areas where
wheelie bins may be difficult to use.
• Options for
supporting people with disabilities will also be
explored.