​Central Otago gets its recycling sorted

Central Otago District Council’s waste minimisation team says residents deserve a pat on the back for getting recycling sorted.

Central Otago’s recycling collected in kerbside mixed recycling collections is now being accepted and processed in Timaru, at the newly materials recovery facility which opened in August this year.

CODC Infrastructure Manager Quinton Penniall said that the district had faced challenges over recent years but it timely during national Recycling Week (17-23 October) to celebrate Central Otago’s commitment to recycling.

“The last few years have been tough, between Covid lockdowns where we were unable to collect recycling, struggling for access with local recycling facilities, contaminated recycling that we’ve had to send to landfill, and even the Cromwell recycling storage shed catching fire in February this year, but things are back on track. We’ve got good quality recycling being accepted and processed in a brand-new facility with heaps of capacity.”

Central Otago District Council continues to collaborate with its fellow Otago councils to work towards a regional approach to recycling, so that shared resources will lead to greater efficiencies, Mr Penniall said.

Recycling collected at Central Otago’s rural drop-off containers continues to be processed at Alexandra Wastebusters.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said there were two ways of looking at being a good recycler.

“For some, it’s about doing the right thing for the environment and the community. I appreciate though for some, that’s not their priority but those folk need to realise that good recycling hygiene in the community saves ratepayers money in years to come. So really, everybody wins when we do the right thing.”

For more information on recycling in Central Otago head to https://www.codc.govt.nz/services/recycling-and-rubbish