Households across Whanganui District Council’s kerbside recycling area will receive wind-proof recycling crate nets later this year.
The announcement follows a successful community trial that ran through March and April – with approximately 1,000 households given the opportunity to use the nets.
In a post-trial survey, 99% of respondents who used the nets said they worked well to stop the wind blowing recycling from crates.
Council waste portfolio lead, Councillor Rob Vinsen says he’s pleased Whanganui has found a practical solution to the wind issue and is hopeful the nets will mean the district gets the best of both worlds – a system that’s wind-proof and delivers exceptionally low contamination rates.
“Feedback from residents who took part in the trial was overwhelmingly positive and showed the nets can make a real difference. Importantly, the trial also showed the nets were easy for collection crews to work with, meaning we can improve material containment without compromising the efficiency of the service,” said Cr Vinsen.
“Around two-thirds of eligible households are already participating in kerbside recycling and we’re producing some of the cleanest recycling in the country. The open-topped crates mean collection crews can quickly spot non-recyclable items before they enter the recycling stream. The nets allow us to keep that advantage while making sure recycling stays where it belongs – in the crate.”
Whanganui’s recycling contamination rate is close to zero. In contrast, the Council says many parts of the country using wheelie-bin recycling systems are struggling with contamination rates upwards of 30%, meaning significant volumes of material collected for recycling cannot be recycled.
Using external funding through the national Waste Disposal Levy rather than rates, the Council has purchased enough nets for all properties currently rated for the kerbside recycling service, along with additional stock to cater for replacements over time and future demand.
“This project is being funded through the Ministry for the Environment’s Waste Disposal Levy, not rates, so residents can be confident the cost isn’t falling on local ratepayers,” said Cr Vinsen.
He said the decision to provide nets to all households was carefully considered, and not a simple one, as not all eligible household currently use the kerbside recycling service.
“Ultimately, it was decided that all households rated for the service should have access to the same level of service, including the nets. While some residents already use bricks or similar to secure recyclables, the nets provide a simple, purpose-designed solution that many will find more convenient.”
“We’re also hopeful the nets will encourage more people to participate in kerbside recycling. Around 30 percent of survey respondents said they were recycling more, or for the first time, thanks to the nets.”
At this stage, Council aims to start rolling out the nets in September, subject to global shipping schedules. Households will receive information and instructions alongside delivery of the nets, with further details about timing and delivery areas to be shared closer to the start of the programme.
