Kerbside recycling in CHB and navigating the International Markets

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is encouraging residents to visit the Council's Waste Free CHB pages to find out more about what can and cannot be recycled at the kerbside, following a number of changes to the recycling service over the last year.

The Council has been working with its contracting partners to streamline kerbside recycling services to ensure that what is put in the bin, can in fact be recycled, and to ensure the safety of Council and contractor staff on the roads. 

A number of international, national and local pressures exerted onto recycling markets and services have meant that kerbside services have experienced significant change over the past 24 months. What can and cannot be recycled is dependent on available market demand, often outside the Council's control.  

The Council, through its contracting partners, has access to the best recycling markets available, but certain requirements around the condition of the District’s recycling apply, for example the cleanliness of the District’s recycling and sorting of plastics and cardboard.  
 
Technology is enabling the Council to improve performance and contractor staff safety, with additions such as new vehicle mounted cameras. The cameras allow the Council to check in on exactly what is left on the kerbside for every collection and to ensure the safety of staff working on the roads. This technology alone helps ensure the efficiency and accuracy of these services. 

The Council’s Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP), adopted in 2019 set out a collective goal for Council and the community in working towards a Waste Free CHB. The WMMP adopted proposed targets of increasing diversion from landfill to 48% by 2025 and increasing participation in kerbside recycling services to 60% in the same time frame. CHBDC acknowledged that a key issue was increasing community engagement, understanding and awareness of waste issues.   

CHBDC Chief Executive Monique Davidson says: “We recognise there have been a number of changes to the recycling service over the last year, which haven't always been clear. Numerous rules and changes can cause confusion which is understandably frustrating, and we've seen some of these frustrations expressed over the last week..

“We know that there is room for improvement with our current kerbside recycling service, and as part of our Draft Long Term Plan consultation in March, we will ask our community to help us design the best service for the future. We want to make sure that when we make changes, it’s a change that helps us achieve our goals of a Waste Free CHB. 

“In the mean time we need your help, please urge your family and friends to keep recycling. If for any reason your kerbside recycling isn’t collected and the reason we have given you doesn’t make sense, contact us so that we can understand what went wrong.”

The Draft Long Term Plan will be open for Consultation 1-31 March 2021 and the Council encourages the community to lodge a submission providing feedback around the current recycling and waste services. Community engagement will help shape the District’s waste issues for the next six years with this already identified and prioritised as one of the top four focus areas.

The Council will release a series of helpful tips via social media to help residents understand some of the reoccurring issues around recycling collection and break down the barriers residents are facing with this service. Residents are also encouraged to learn more about the current restrictions and requirements around kerbside recycling by visiting www.chbdc.govt.nz. In the meantime residents are encouraged to continue to provide useful feedback to the Council by phoning the council offices or emailing customerservice@chbdc.govt.nz

What can and can't be recycled

Only plastic bottles and plastic numbered 1, 2 and 5 are acceptable for recycling 

If your house receives kerbside recycling collection as part of your rates, your property has been allocated two crates – one red for glass recycling, and one black/blue for all other recycling (paper, cardboard, plastics (1,2 & 5) and cans). Recyclables must be clean and lids/tops removed (for rubbish).
If you haven’t already got these, one crate in each colour is available to you free of charge. It is really important to use these crates, as it allows our team to easily identify recycling crates for pick-up which speeds up the collection process. It also means we know that these crates can be lifted safely by our staff, as long as they aren’t overfilled!
The crates belong to your property and must remain with your property when you move.
 
Reasons for non-collection
To ensure your recycling is able to be processed, it is important that the correct recycling is put out in the correct crate. These items will not be collected: 
•    Items not in a council crate (black/blue or red crate)
•    Glass mixed with other recyclables
•    Contamination - items were now washed/clean
•    Non-recyclable glass included - mirror, broken glass, window pane, cutlery/crockery
•    The bin(s) was/were overfull and items on the ground
•    Cardboard not flattened/collapsed
•    Items mixed with non-recyclables/rubbish (wrapping plastic, polystyrene, tetra paks, children's toys, aerosol spray cans, take away coffee cups, supermarket bags, Tetra Paks - milk and juice cartons)
•    Crate included plastics numbered 3, 4, 6 and 7
•    Crate included other plastics that do not display a number (non-recyclables) 

Cardboard Boxes
•    Cardboard boxes that cannot fit in your Council crate must be all folded (flattened/collapsed) and should not be placed in a cardboard box for collection
•    Folded boxes can be secured under your Council crate for kerbside collection (must not be tied together)
•    Larger boxes and volumes can be taken to the Recycling Drop-off Centre at any time and disposed of for free

27 January 2021

Back to Archive