Helping to ensure glass recycling during COVID-19 lockdown

A grant of $6,000 helped the Matamata-Piako District Council provide a mixed glass recycling bin and staff to manage social distancing at temporary collection sites in Morrinsville, Matamata and Te Aroha.

This was to ensure the continued recycling of glass during the COVID-19 lockdown, which saw the council opt not to collect glass recycling crates from residential properties due to health and safety concerns during Alert Level 4.

While the Ministry for the Environment declared recycling an essential service, it left the decision to collect and process recycling up to councils and contractors.