Sorting refuse will save with new weigh

 
People are being encouraged to sort out their rubbish in order to put a few extra bucks in their back pockets.

Hastings District Council hopes a change from a set rate to a weigh-in-weigh-out system at Flaxmere's Henderson Rd Transfer Station will be fairer and encourage people to reduce, reuse and recycle.
 

A weighbridge system will come into force from Monday and visitors' vehicles will be weighed on entering and again on exiting, and then charged on the difference.
 

The out weighbridge has been lifted so drivers of cars can talk to the kiosk operator. Previously, it had been lower as it was designed for trucks.
 

Councillor Rod Heaps, a member of the Omarunui Refuse Landfill committee, said in the past, people taking light loads to the landfill had been charged the same as someone who dumped a heavy load of rubble.
 

"Under the weigh-in-weigh-out system, you pay for what you dump. This system encourages people to think about what they are dumping and what could be recycled," he said.
 

Cr Heaps said it was cheaper to dump sorted green waste than to dump it mixed in with other rubbish.
 

"So sort out your green waste and save money," he said.
 

"If you've done home renovations, take what you've stripped out to the building recyclers rather than taking it to the transfer station, every bit helps reduce what goes to landfill and saves you money."
 

Cr Heaps said it may take people awhile to become used to the new system and he asked users to be patient.
 

 
The weigh-in-weigh-out scheme was in line with the zero waste strategy the council adopted in 1998 which aims to encourage people to reduce, reuse or recycle. The scheme works towards an objective of its Solid Waste Management Plan which aims to remove 25 per cent of total waste stream by 2012.