That's the message to the Te Puke community from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council for the Te Puke recycling and greenwaste centre that is to be officially opened on Thursday, August 19.

The new centre in Station Road is one of the few purpose-built recycling centres in New Zealand, specifically designed to ensure each recyclable material can be dropped off, sorted, baled and dispatched with the maximum ease and efficiency.

The Eastern Recycling Centre will offer full domestic recycling and green waste disposal including plastics, glass, cardboard, scrap metal, aluminium cans and greenwaste. Tyres will also be accepted as they are a sought-after fuel because of their high energy value. They will be taken from Te Puke to the Waikato for processing and then sent to Korea for use as a fuel in the cement industry as a substitute for coal.

The Recycling Centre will be operated by Avalon (BOP) Incorporated of Te Puna under a service contract to the Council and will be staffed by site manager Michael Dixon and site supervisor Glen Annandale who both live in Te Puke.

Glen and Mike have spent the past months training in all aspects of recycling and waste management and they are also gaining national certification in resource recovery operations under the guidance of Waste Watchers representative Marty Hoffart.

Council's Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill is thrilled with the new centre and says its location so close to the hub of the community is a huge convenience to customers.

“Very few recycling centres are so handy to the town they service – this is right on Te Puke's doorstep, so it is very convenient for the public.

“We urge people to use the centre because the more product that comes through it the more we can offset the cost of running the centre, therefore the less Te Puke ratepayers will have to pay for its operation,” says Kelvin.

The centre will be open for recycling from 10am on August 19 following the official opening by Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson and attended by Avalon and Council representatives.

Some facts about the Eastern Recycling Centre

•  Western Bay of Plenty District Council has made a significant investment buying the land and building the Centre in Station Road, Te Puke.
•  The centre will offer full domestic recycling and green waste disposal including plastics (four types of plastics) waste, glass (clear, green and brown), cardboard, scrap metal, aluminium cans, greenwaste and tyres.

It will be operated by Avalon (BOP) Incorporated of Te Puna under a service contract to the Council.