"Is it worth it?"

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 611, 7 November 1995, Page 8

"Is it worth it?"

By

Michele

Monaghan

Lack of education is the main reason behind a drop in the number of Waiouru householders recycling according to facilities management warrant officer Sergeant Major Ross Brunton. From over 600 houses about 120 recycling bins are being put out each week for collection. When the project first started two years ago nearly 80 percent of householders participated in the recycling scheme. Recycling bins were issued to each military house around September 1993 and along with the bins came a recycling pamphlet to guide householders about what is recyclable and what is not. W02 Brunton said he believes a re-issue of this pamphlet would lead to a higher yield of recyclables, but that still leaves the question of what to do with these recyclables once they've been collected. "Recycling is a good thing, but if it' s costing money and not paying for itself is it worth it?" W02 Brunton questioned. At the moment paper and cardboard is being stored and an outlet in Rotorua will pick it up free of charge once there' s about 20 to 25 tonne. "Where do you store 25 tonne of cardboard? That' s the problem. We have to go large scale. If we had the storage area we could get the messes up and running, but would we get a return?" he asked. Bottles and cans are crushed and palletised before being sent away and provide some return for the army. As for plastic, a truck and trailer takes what's recyclable to Auckland but doesn' t produce a good return. W02 Brunton said he didn't even think the trip paid for itself. Again space is a problem because plastics don't crush well and a chipper is really required. W02 Brunton said recycling as an option for Waiouru is seriously being looked at, as is a waste transfer station. Even with a waste transfer station the huge costs invloved in moving waste from Waiouru to any where would still be a factor. W02 Brunton said anything that is recyclable is retained while the rest goes into the landfill including plastics that are not recyclable. Reports about the state of the landfill are good W02 Brunton said and monthly tests

of the W ai tangi stream both above and below the landfill sight have been coming up clear.