April 16, 2021 In Grants and Funding, Media releases, Recycling

GPF helps Central Hawke’s Bay upgrade glass recycling facilities

The new glass recycling storage bunkers at its Waipukurau Transfer Station.

The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council (CHBDC) is ready should its glass recycling service be expanded later this year, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Glass Packaging Forum.

The grant has helped the council upgrade its glass storage bunkers following its Long Term Plan 2021-2031 consultation in March, which proposes to expand kerbside recycling (including glass) to the townships of Takapau, Otane, Tikokino and Ongaonga from 1 July 2021.

“Increasing recycling rates across the district is central to achieving our vision for a ‘Waste-Free CHB’. As part of our Long Term Plan engagement, we’ve asked our community to back us in extending our recycling services to these townships, which will help reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill. If this new service is given the greenlight it will increase the volume of glass we collect,” says CHBDC’s Deputy Mayor Kelly Annand, who is also chair of the strategy and wellbeing committee says.

The council has completed the consultation and hearings phases and is currently deliberating on whether to expand the service.

The council’s Group Manager for Community Infrastructure and Development Joshua Lloyd says the volume of glass they collect was already such that the old storage system needed upgrading, so the funding came at the right time.

“Glass must be sorted into its three base colours (clear, green and brown) before being recycled into new containers, and bunkers were too small causing contamination as colours accidentally mix. The total cost of the project is $47,500,” Joshua says.

Glass Packaging Forum Scheme Manager Dominic says improving this simple but essential infrastructure is vital to improving glass recycling rates nationwide. “I applaud the council for wanting to roll out kerbside collections for more residents in the district.

“The council is already using the best practice method of separate glass collections at kerbside, so it’s a waste to lose this high-quality glass because the bunkers are no longer fit for purpose. The GPF is more than happy to help,” Dominic says.

The Forum’s grants are funded by voluntary levies paid by its members, with over $3.7 million in grants funded to date to projects which improve glass recovery and recycling in New Zealand.