Community recycling stations are filling up fast now that glass is no longer accepted as part of Tauranga's kerbside collection services.
From yesterday, Waste Management would no longer collect glass in kerbside collections in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, which meant residents had to take their glass recycling to one of eight locations around the district including two transfer stations and six Bins for Better Communities recycle stations.
Bins for Better Communities was an initiative, supported by Waste Management, where participating schools and community groups were paid for recyclable glass collected from purpose-built bins on their premises.
Papamoa Beach Four Square and Bethlehem Town Centre were two sites the Bins for Better Communities were located.
Papamoa Beach Four Square owner Ben Duffield said the bins had been on-site since last week and were already three-quarters full.
"People seem happy to use the bins, it saves a lot of people having to drive out to Bay Park to the transfer station," Duffield said.
Ben Duffield says all proceeds from glass collected will be given to community groups and charities. Photo/ Supplied
Bethlehem Town Centre manager Andrew Wadsworth said providing a recycling option for the community to minimise the amount of glass going into landfill was "an easy decision to make".
"The bins have been on-site for over a month and we have already had to replace the bins due to them being full," Wadsworth said.
"We hope the community continues to use these bins and we are open to providing more bins in the future if required."
The proceeds collected from both sites would be donated back to community groups and charities.
Meanwhile, the glass ban had also prompted Tauranga City Council to propose a rates-funded and council-managed kerbside collection service to be included in the council's Long-Term Plan 2018-2028. If accepted, the rates-funded service would not start until 2021.
In the meantime, the council will next Wednesday look at whether to provide a rates-funded glass collection service earlier as an interim solution.
Councillor Steve Morris, who is chairman of the Environment Committee, said Tauranga was vulnerable to business decisions because of privately-led kerbside collection services.
"We totally understand that privately-owned and operated collection companies need to make business decisions based on economics. But as a city we need to look at the impact of this decision on the environment too."
The proposed rates-funded waste and recycling collection service would provide mixed recycling, organic and rubbish collections to all Tauranga households.
"In order for council to introduce this service, the proposal needs to be accepted into the council's 2018-2028 Long-Term Plan, which opens for public consultation on March 16.
"We hope the community will have their say about our proposed rates-funded service," Morris said.
Where can you take your glass?
Bins for Better Communities stations Bethlehem Town Centre - 19 Bethlehem Rd, Bethlehem Mt Maunganui Intermediate - Links Ave, Mount Maunganui Papamoa Beach 4 Square - 1200 Papamoa Beach Rd, Papamoa Bowentown Boating Club - Pio Rd, Bowentown Bledisloe Holiday Park - Little Waihi Rd, RD9, Te Puke
