Michael Dixon and Glen Annandale have been selected for site supervisor and site manager respectively, taking charge of the Eastern Recycling Centre in Station Road, Te Puke, due to open in August 2010.

Last week the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and Avalon (BOP) Incorporated of Te Puna signed a service contract sealing a business contract for the operation of the new facility.

Western Bay mayor Ross Paterson said two years of preparation by Avalon and Council staff have gone into preparing for the joint venture to establish a recycling and greenwaste centre which will fill a much needed gap for the eastern communities of Western Bay.

“This venture is new ground for our Council. We have been looking to set up a recycling centre for Te Puke for some time and we are proud to have achieved this partnership with Avalon.

“Council has invested $1 million in buying the land and building the new centre in Station Road, Te Puke, to bring full recycling facilities to the eastern district.

“We have listened to the residents of Te Puke and neighbouring communities who have been asking Council to provide a local facility so that they no longer have to travel to Te Maunga to dispose of recyclables and green waste,” said Ross.

“It will now be up to the community to throw their weight behind supporting this new venture and by so doing support Avalon's confidence in bringing their service to the Te Puke area.”

Recycling centre staff Glen Annandale and Michael Dixon are in training with Waste Watchers consultant Marty Hoffart in preparation for the opening of the centre.

Both Glen and Mike are passionate about the environment and recycling and they regard the opportunity as a dream prospect.

Mike, who will be centre manager, is already well known in the Te Puke area through his lawn mowing business (Tydee Services).

Site supervisor Glen, is a tree farmer in Paengaroa and has been studying to enter a career in recycling and waste management.

Glen described his selection as site supervisor as a “dream job”.

"I have always been passionate about recycling. It has just been in me since I was a kid so this is a dream job – sorting materials, organising resources and teaching people about recycling.

“I just hope my enthusiasm rubs off on people by encouraging them to recycle and to keep returning to the recycling centre.

For Mike the job is an opportunity to contribute to the Te Puke community. He has a strong desire to help educate people to make a difference to their environment.

“This job will help people do their bit for the world. Every person we can teach about recycling is someone who will not be chucking their rubbish in the wrong places.

Talking and teaching the people is going to be a great part of the job,'' said Mike.

Avalon chief executive James Middleton said Mike and Glen won selection from a lengthy list of applicants because of their passion.

“Both want to make a difference in people lives. They both have the right skills so we have brought them together. When people arrive at the recycling centre they will meet a team from whom they will learn and have an experience.

“That is Avalon's mission – that every experience at Avalon will help you achieve your potential. So that will be the same Te Puke. These guys will make a significant change in people's lives,” said James.

Avalon is a training, business and employment centre for people with disabilities. Taking over the recycling centre operations is another step in a growing relationship with the Council.

Avalon's nursery provides trees for some of Council's reserve planting programmes and Avalon provides mail finishing services for Council publications. The recycling contract is the first business relationship between the two organisations.

Initially the recycling centre will be operated solely by Glen and Mike but once on its feet, people from Avalon's training base will be employed on site to help with the recycling.

James said the partnership with Council is a “perfect collaboration”.

“We have the Western Bay District Council supporting the community of Te Puke by providing a domestic recycling drop-off centre and they are achieving this using Avalon, a community not-for-profit organisation, to support people with disabilities to become valued members of their community.

“This is an exciting time for Avalon – and it is a perfect example of using local connections to support the community and the big kicker for all of us is that we are doing it for our environment. How much better can you get,” said James.

“Our goal at Avalon is to take people out of the shadows into the sunlight of the community. W e have not been in Te Puke before and this (recycling centre) opens an opportunity for us ultimately to have a training centre in Te Puke.”

Some facts about the Eastern Recycling Centre 

• Western Bay of Plenty District Council has invested $1 million in buying the land and building the Eastern Recycling Centre in Station Road, Te Puke.
• The centre will offer full domestic recycling and green waste disposal including plastic waste, glass, cardboard, scrap metal, aluminium cans and greenwaste.
• The centre will be operated by Avalon (BOP) Incorporated of Te Puna under a service contract to the Council.
• Initially the centre will be operated by two newly appointed employees – a site manager (Michael Dixon) and a site supervisor (Glen Annandale) both of whom live in Te Puke.
• Once successfully established, the centre will provide employment opportunities for people from Avalon which is a training, business and employment centre for people with disabilities.
• The operational cost of the Eastern Recycling and Greenwaste Centre will be covered by an annual charge for residents in the east of the district plus an annual waste disposal levy collected under the Waste Minimisation Act.

 
Avalon Chief Executive James Middleton (left) with Eastern Recycling Centre site manager Michael Dixon (centre) and site supervisor Glen Annandale