Waiouru houses beat messes at recycling

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 523, 15 February 1994, Page 7

Waiouru houses beat messes at recycling

"We want people to recycle and reduce waste" says John Mangos, Land management officer for the Waiouru Army Training Group. Mr Mangos is "encouraged by the number of people recycling" - about 70 per cent of the housing area in Waiouru. He explained that two truckloads of waste comes out of the housing area every week, but three truckloads a day come from the messes in camp. Recycling for the messes has not been put into full swing yet. Improved recycling methods at the messes in the next two or three months are planned. Large recycling bins, like the ones at the Waiouru Landfill are expected to reduce landfill waste from the messes. A lot of cardboard and plastic is put out for recycling, and the cardboard is a saleable commodity, says Mr Mangos. "So are aluminium and steel cans, paper and glass." Plastic is still a problem. At the moment it is baled up and stored opposite the chil-

dren' s playground and looks a mess. Mr Mangos said the bales will soon be shifted and then a decision will be made on how to best get rid of the plastic. Ideally recycling would be the best way, but he said there is no market. Plastic

milk bottles take up a lot of room in dumps and the messes go through a lot of milk, so an alternative to plastic bottles is being looked at. Sachets could be one alternative as they at least reduce the space taken UP-