A LOCAL refuse worker advocate said Young locals are making a mockery of recycling and are being irresponsible by putting distinctly non-recyclable material in their bins.
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Used nappies, medical waste, syringes, and animal carcasses are some of the dangerous goods the Elouera Association staff are dealing with every day as they sort the contents of residents’ recycling bins.
“There is no thought or consideration from some locals that our plant is still a manual processing plant, we don’t have anything hi-tech, our workers physically have to sort through things like soiled nappies and even syringes,” Elouera CEO Allan Young said.
"One of our workers less than a month ago got a needle prick from a used syringe; we've had quite a few of our workers injured over the years caused by people not doing the right thing. This is all very concerning to us because we are employing people, so it's a difficult situation."
Mr Young said whilst education is the key to improving the situation some form of punishment may have to be handed out to those who are chronic abusers of the system.
"A bit of both education and punishment would work," he said.
"The recycling trucks have cameras on them to identify the addresses that are doing the wrong thing and if they pick up repeat offenders, they will be punished. The Council then have the evidence to identify the people at that address, and they can lose the right to their rubbish collection service if they are clearly putting non-recyclable rubbish in their bin regularly."
A Hilltops Council spokesperson said it is important residents only put recycling materials in their yellow top bin.
"Many may not realise that the recycling is hand sorted so it’s important to keep the recycling clean. It’s also important to remember that anything in a plastic bag isn’t able to be sorted due to safety concerns, so leave recyclables out of plastic bags," the spokesperson said.
Mr Young said residents should know what can be placed in their recycling bin.
“Only plastic bottles and containers, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard, office papers, glass bottles and jars, milk and juice cartons, and steel, aerosol and aluminium cans can be placed in the recycle bin,” he said
Craig Thomson
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
I am a media and communications professional with experience across print, digital, social and radio broadcasts. I am currently the Editor of Australian Community Media's Launceston Examiner.
