Recycling centre faces closure threat

CONTAMINATED: Closure looms for the Tuturumuri Recycling Centre because of people contaminating recyclables with general waste. PHOTO/SWDC

People dumping animal carcasses and other waste are contaminating the Tuturumuri Recycling Centre - meaning it may have to close.

It has now become a health and safety issue for recycling contractors Earthcare, according to South Wairarapa District Council.

"The contractors, when trying to sort out what is recycling and what is not, are becoming contaminated," said Mark Allingham, group manager infrastructure and services for the council.

He said Earthcare had been carrying the cost of cleaning up the site. "They had been doing it for free but they are no longer prepared to now.

"We are looking for discussion on what is the best way to deal with recycling."

Last year, Tuturumuri residents said they were concerned the centre, about one kilometre west of the village, was being badly abused by non-residents, said Mr Allingham.

The council then proposed to establish a different, "more visible" site within the village with the hope of eliminating abuse of the recycling centre.

"Council had wanted to construct a new centre a few months back but we had a couple of residents who lived near it [the new site] and were opposed to having it there," said Mr Allingham.

He said getting rid of the centre could lead to an increase in illegal dumping of waste and an increase in costs to deal with it. A council report to be tabled at the council's monthly meeting on Wednesday proposes closing the centre and the local community of Tuturumuri delivering their own recycling to the Martinborough Transfer station.

There is also the option of moving the Tuturumuri recycling bins to Ngawi's new rubbish centre, built by the Ngawi Ratepayers Association. The council's Long Term Plan shows the council is obligated to provide people in the area with some way to recycle.