Recycling service to continue as normal
Recycling in Waipā will continue to run as normal throughout the 4 week long shutdown period set to come into effect from midnight on Wednesday.
Waipā District Council has today confirmed its recycling service, which is operated by Metallic Sweeping, will be one of the key essential services to continue running during the lockdown.
The confirmation follows the Government’s announcement yesterday of a nationwide shutdown in an effort to stop the spread of Covid-19. Council yesterday announced it would close the doors of its Te Awamutu and Cambridge offices and a host of Council facilities across the district in response. Essential services, such as recycling, would remain operational.
Waipā District Council chief executive Garry Dyet said residents should continue to put their recycling on the kerb as usual.
“Waste Management is an essential service so recycling will continue to run to schedule. We are extremely appreciative to Metallic Sweeping and their staff who will be continuing to work and keep the service running during this time.”
Dyet said to minimise contact between staff and potentially contaminated recycling material, recycling would be transferred to Auckland for processing.
“Recycling in Waipā is sorted by hand and right now that would put staff at too great a risk so we are going to send it to Auckland where it will be sorted by machine at a centre there. This means there will be minimal contact between staff and recycling material which is crucial at this time.”
Waipā residents still needed to make sure any recycling was clean and recyclable prior to being put out for collection, Dyet added.
“Residents should only put clean recycling in their bins. We have recently seen a surge in contamination, including rubbish bags, dirty nappies and even medical waste, and that is simply unacceptable. Contamination could lead to a whole truckload of recycling going to landfill which then puts pressure on other essential waste services.”
While not operated by Council in Waipā, rubbish collection is also an essential service and will continue to be collected throughout the level 4 lockdown. Rubbish enquiries should be directed to individual service providers.