28 February 2012

Hazardous waste collections starting soon

Auckland Council’s annual Hazmobile collections start next month, offering Aucklanders a chance to get rid of their household hazardous waste free-of-change.

Starting this year with a collection in Pakuranga on Saturday 17 March, the drive-through collections help ensure hundreds of thousands of tonnes of household and garden chemicals, used batteries, old gas bottles and other hazardous items are safely disposed of each year.

Auckland Council Solid Waste Business Unit Manager Jon Roscoe says seven Hazmobile collections have been scheduled so far for 2012, supplementing the drop-off service available at three refuse transfer stations in the region throughout the year.

“Together these services help ensure residents hazardous waste is safely disposed of, protecting the community and our environment from any potentially harmful effects.”

Mr Roscoe says people interested in using the Hazmobile service should check which household hazardous waste is accepted, ensure they box up their waste carefully before leaving home and follow the instructions from staff upon arrival at a Hazmobile collection site.

More details are available on www.hazmobile.govt.nz or by calling Auckland Council on 09 301 0101.

The following collections are scheduled so far for 2012:

• Pakuranga – Saturday 17 March, 10am – 2pm in the public carpark at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Sir Lloyd Drive;
• Green Bay – Saturday 31 March, 10am – 2pm in the Green Bay High School carpark, 143-161 Godley Road;
• Western Springs – Saturday 14 April, 10am – 2pm in the public carpark on Motions Road, near the Zoo entrance and TAPAC;
• Three Kings – Saturday 28 April, 10am – 2pm in the public carpark on Graham Breed Drive, near the Fickling Centre;
• Glen Innes – Saturday 12 May, 10am – 2pm, Glen Innes Community Centre carpark, Line Road.

Smaller collections will also be held in Helensville in March and Waiuku in May.

In Auckland Council’s draft Waste Management and Minimisation Plan, which is due to be finalised later this year, it is proposed to eventually replace the Hazmobile service with more accessible drop-off facilities at a regionwide network of resource recovery centres proposed. Currently in addition to the Hazmobile collections, household hazardous waste can be dropped off at the council’s Henderson, Silverdale and Waiheke Island refuse transfer station (fees may be charged). Used engine oil can be disposed of free of charge at any time via oil recovery bins around the region. Visit www.oilrecycling.org.nz for locations.

ENDS

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