WASTE PAPER TO BE COLLECTED IN WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 9, 18 October 1950, Page 5

WASTE PAPER TO BE COLLECTED IN WHAKATANE

A scheme for collecting and selling waste paper to provide a regular flow of revenue is planned by the Whakatane branch of the Crippled Children’s Society. The scheme has received the support of the businessmen and the Whakatane Rotary Club. The scheme provides for the collection of waste paper from the business area and its sale to Whakatane Board Mills, officials of which have stated that they will take all that can be supplied to them. A conservative estimate puts the probable amount able to be col-

lected from Whakatane annually at 50 tons and the annual revenue from the sale should average £l5O. Outlining the scheme the secretary, Mr J. Slipper, stated that it was planned to collect all usable waste paper and cardboard from Whakatane business firms. Special receptables would be supplied to firms and the waste paper collected each week. This would then be taken to Whakatane Board Mills for pulping. At the present time there is one problem delaying the start, of the scheme. Most firms, according to Mr Slipper, lack storage space and

they are unable to keep paper. Many firms burn huge quantities each day. If it is to be collected, arrangements will have to be made in the town for storing. Here again a problem is still present, because accommodation of any kind at Whakatr.ne is very scarce. Even if storage space is found, there will be a danger because of the inflammable nature of the material. l This will probably require an insurance cover of some kind.

Mr Slipper said that most business houses were keen on the scheme because it helped them to get rid of their waste paper and did away with the trouble of having to burn huge quantities. As an indication of what could be done he pointed out that over £IOOO was collected in Auckland last year in a similar scheme. Mr Slipper suggested that the scheme could possibly be extended to embrace other centres in the Bay of Plenty. The board mills had intimated he said, that they would take all the waste paper and cardboard they could get. With centres like Tauranga and Te Puke having their own collections and then transporting the paper to the mill, he thought they would have a continual income and at the same time do away with waste common to most towns. However, this was only a suggestion that might be taken up if other centres were interested, he said.

It is hoped to get the scheme going in Whakatane before Christmas.