Industry commitment to recycling

14th March 2005

Ten year contract shows industry commitment to recycling

A long-term contract has just been signed between kerbside recycling collector Onyx and Steel Can Recycling (SCR), the organisation that represents the country's can makers. The deal, signed by SCR Programme Director, Bruce Gledhill and Onyx CEO Mike Huddleston, means that it will be even easier for people living in North Shore and Waitakere Cities to recycle their tin cans. The new Onyx kerbside recycling service starts in July this year.

The joint initiative shows the steel sector's level of commitment to maximising the recovery and recycling of steel cans used in popular consumer items like food and petfood, aerosols and paint.

"We are delighted to formalise this agreement because it means that consumers in these two cities will be able to place all their steel cans in the new 140 litre mobile recycling bins." says Mike.

"Once householders put the cans in the recycling bin no other human contact occurs. The Onyx trucks will be fully mechanised and at the recycling centre a magnet automatically removes them from the sorting line. Then they are crushed into blocks using a new high-tech baler'.

"Closing the loop is what its all about. The crushed cans will then go to Pacific Steel in Otahuhu where it is melted along with old cars and other scrap steel and then made into a wide range of steel products that will be used by almost every industry and household in NZ.

Onyx CEO Mike Huddleston says "The contract heralds a new era in steel can recycling in this country because the larger capacity recycling bins will enable people to recycle all of the cans they use in their home. This extra capacity, the modern processing plant and the support of SCR provides a strong platform to increase recycling in Waitakere and on the North Shore."

"North Shore residents are NZ's most experienced recyclers and together the two cities are amongst the most committed to recycling but every year in this region we still throw away enough steel cans to build a new harbour bridge every two years," Mr Gledhill notes.

Steel Can Recycling has pledged to Central Government that by 2008 it will recover and recycle 43% of the steel cans used annually by New Zealanders. "The new Onyx system and with these two leading communities on board, will make a huge difference," said Mr Gledhill.

ENDS

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