Waiting 18 months for council to sort the glass contamination problem in Invercargill’s recycling is not good enough, according to city councillor Ian Pottinger. Take our survey/poll http://bit.ly/42RS1tC
The council was given an update on the Long Term Community Plan (LTTP) for community wellbeing, and that consultation would happen in March next year.
But Cr Pottinger, who is also chair of the Infrastructure Committee, and has been vocal about the both the city’s solid waste and recycling issues, said action on the contaminated glass issue was just too slow.
It wouldn’t be until at least the end of next year, following public consultation, that the problem could be sorted, “and I actually place a lot of urgency on this. This is a real problem that needs a different process to get a result, rather than the LTTP,” he said.
An option report from council would look at glass recycling as part of the solid waste activity, as well as include kerbside collection and central collection points.
But Erin Moogan, Manager of Infrastructure, told the committee, that she would struggle to deliver an ‘accelerated’ options paper, because of the significant amount of work involved.
“Council has already accelerated some significant projects such as 12:25 and I would struggle to accelerate this one beyond what it is at the moment.”
Council said in its report there is potential for improved environmental outcomes and service delivery from introducing glass recycling options in the city.
At the moment, contaminated kerbside recycling from glass is sent straight to landfill, and mana whenua representative Evelyn Cook asked how big a deal it would be to find a practical solution right away?
“There has to be something simpler than waiting 18 months?”
Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell asked if more centralised location points could be established, and bottle banks.
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Erin said while bottle banks could be introduced immediately, the alternative option of telling putting to put their glass straight in the bin, “in my experience there is often backlash around that because people’s perception is then that we prefer landfill.”