Official Information Request - 27 September 2020

Sent: Tuesday, 29 September 2020 2:32 pm

Subject: TRIM: Information request - Council recycling system: Rotorua Lakes Council

I refer to your email of 27 September 2020 regarding Council's waste and recycling systems. This has been processed under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

1. How many bins does each household in your council have and what are these? i.e. combined recycling, landfill and greens OR additional paper and cardboard?

Each household in Rotorua has a set of three bins: 140L red bin (for landfill); 240L yellow bin (for mixed recycling; 45L glass crate

2. What materials do you recycle? i.e. aluminium, paper, glass (which colours), plastics, compost, commercially compostable plastics, home compostable plastics etc.

Paper, cardboard, plastics (1, 2, 5 only), aluminium and tin cans

3. Where do you recycle these materials? i.e. do you transport them somewhere? Name of the plant/location?All materials are transported to Smart Environmental's material recovery facility (MRF) in Kopu for sorting. Once sorted, the clean streams of recyclables materials are sent to different processing plants.

4. Do you stockpile materials? If so where, and what tonnage have you already collected?

No

5. Have you long term contracts with recycling plants?

RLC has no direct contract with recycling plants. Our waste collection contractor is responsible for managing Rotorua's recycling.

6. Have you long term contracts with Market (resale)? If so, who?

RLC has no direct contract with recyclers. Our waste collection contractor is responsible for managing Rotorua's recycling.

7. Do you collect materials for other councils to recycle? If so, who?

No

8. Are your local landfills running out of space? What landfills do you hold contracts with?

We do not have any active landfills in Rotorua. All our municipal waste is landfilled in Tirohia.

9. Do you have any figures on contaminated recyclables which end up in landfill?

During FY2019/20, Rotorua Council collected about 570 tons of contaminated recycling (about 19% of total mixed recycling), which ended up in landfill. Contamination was higher in the 2019/20 financial year due to recycling disruption under Covid lockdown.

10. We would love to know what would help your council recycle better. E.g. Do you need locals to wash their recyclables before putting in the bin? Labels to make it easier?

The most important thing is for people to follow recycling instructions given by Council. Contaminating recycling bins with non-recyclable or unclean items may contaminate the whole bin, incur high costs and present H&S risks to collection/sorting staff.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this response. Complaints can be sent by email to info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, by fax to (04) 471 2254, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

Please note: Our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Rotorua Lakes Council website after they have been responded to, with requesters' personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about this please contact the Council on info@rotorualc.nz .

Regards