[Recycling] New Plymouth to open $3.8 million recycling plant

By  Paul Ploumis 06 Aug 2015  Last updated at  06:14:29 GMT

(Scrap Monster): New Plymouth District Council will open a new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) on Colson Road, adjacent to the existing transfer station. The $3.8 million recycling plant is expected to open during the month of October this year. The new facility is expected to cut down landfilling costs substantially.

With the opening of the new facility, the Council plans to separate and sell recyclables. The District Council urged residents to recycle more, as this in turn would generate more income to the Council. The district households can make use of the new yellow-lid recycling bin, which will additionally accept cardboard pieces and more categories of plastics. No 1 and No 2 types of plastics that include yoghurt bottles, ice cream containers, margarine tubs, and takeout food containers will be accepted initially. The Council plans to soon extend the program to accept all plastic categories.

According to reports, the council plans to develop a “public good area” which will provide additional space for recycling and reusing activities. The area would be used for selling of recycled goods as well. In the final stage of the program, it also plans to build a new transfer station, which will enable transportation of waste to new landfill, when the current landfill closes.

The Council noted that plastic bags will not be accepted at the ‘Resource Recovery Facility’ as it is feared to clog the waste stream. He requested people to voluntarily reduce the use of plastic bags while shopping, as it may lead to serious environmental problems.

The new MRF is expected to help the environment by reducing the waste reaching the landfills.