Recycling crates reduced to $10

Council has reduced the cost of the official maroon and green recycling crates used in our district to $10 in an effort to encourage people to purchase additional crates.

Two issues with the recycling service are causing ongoing consistency concerns which in turn are creating frustrations for the community, contractors and Council - overfilled crates being too full to collect safely and non-regulation crates that are deemed sub-standard and unsafe.

The perception of what 'overfilled' looks like is subjective and is complicated further by the type of material that is above the lip of the crate.

"If crates are overfilled the contractor will not empty them for safety reasons," explained Andrew Pascoe, Council's Services Manager. "Crates are lifted above their heads to empty and this makes overfilled crates dangerous to handle."

Council says there are several solutions to the issue of overfilled crates.

"Additional crates can be purchased from Council," said Mr Pascoe. "Alternatively excess recycling can be dropped off at one of the six recycling depots in the district."

In addition, Mr Pascoe notes in many circumstances crate space can be used more efficiently.

"If users fold paper, flatten boxes and crush plastic bottles and cans more material can be fitted into each of the crates."

Council is also phasing out the use of non-regulation crates. Council introduced the recycling crates in 2012 and has permitted non-regulation crates since, but this is now being phased out. The quality of some non-regulation crates is not up to standard and with coming health and safety legislation changes, it is important that we sort this issue once and for all. The simplest 'one-rule-across-the-board' way to do this is to no longer permit non-regulation crates. That way there can be no misunderstanding.

"There will be a three month phasing out period. From Monday 2 November, only the official green and maroon crates will be emptied," concluded Mr Pascoe.

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