Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter
Send news

News tags

mental health  physical activity  earthquake  vacancies  families  public health  children  funding  poverty  health determinants  social  Community development  planning  employment  healthy cities  volunteers  newsletter  youth  volunteering  nutrition  employment opportunity  housing  alcohol and drugs  maori  community engagement  rebuilding  wellbeing  disabilities  Lectures  counselling  Training  earthquake recovery  sustainability  event  community gardens  Community  seminar  Awards  stress  Community Groups  mens health  research  arts  smokefree  culture  men  exercise  migrants  community event  education  environment  resilience  human rights  health  medical  business  sport  conferences  survey  mental wellbeing  Courses  obesity  elderly  support group  environmental health  healthy food  health promotion  violence  pacific health  resources  rebuild  women  race relations  meeting  gardens  workshop  services  leadership  forum  water  disabled  repair  transport  prevention  pacific  dance  fundraising  asian health  sexual health  inequality  cancer  support  disasters  development  mindfulness  dementia  presentation  collaboration  health in all policies  data analysis  recovery  smoking  law  drugs and alcohol  technology  safety  cycling  Sleep  policy  parenting  media  hearing  walking  land  neighbours  social justice  qualification  resilient cities  information  community connection  consultation  oral health  bullying  depression  youth empowerment  young people  activities  non-profit  charity  harm  NURSES  addiction  disease  Communication  alcohol  symposium  submission  anxiety  accessibility  Relationships  eating  economics  Advocacy  eLearning  falls  parking  energy  efficiency  heating  insulation  advice  Eating Disorders  abuse  waste  Matariki  webinar  diabetes  workplace  Film  Climate Change  solutions  urban  management  economy  plan  restoration  Report  Vulnerability  welfare  parks  learning  awareness  emergencies  legislation  injury prevention  reading  Meeting Room  conservation  language  refugees  recreation  built environment  data  venue  urban design  Food  older people  finances  suicide  heritage  gender  recycling  breastfeeding  public  identity  Nursing  submissions  Rainbow  biodiversity  campaign  promotion  Gut Health  diversity  therapy  older adults  sexuality  computing  pollution  School Holidays  Arts Therapy  providers  gambling  Maori health  Cervical cancer  screening  trauma  autism  Governance  treaty of waitangi  care  mentoring  pets  relaxation  Professional Development  pornography  exhibition  history  discrimination  vaping  equity  lockdown  grief  rural  hygiene  participation  tourism  summer  intervention  warning  podcast  science  petition  swimming  roadworks  traffic  wildlife  beaches  pools  immunisation  vaccination  brain  preparation  open day  market  evaluation  noise  music  property  testing  crafts  CALD  cultural diversity  camping  creativity  child health  tamariki  climate action  Pasifika  refugee  migrant  community events  road safety  library  Hornby  skills  placemaking  regenerative communities  journey  reflection  regional council  councillors  water management  emergency management  retirement  stress management  Christmas  family  festival  alcohol harm  waterways  planting  health protection  legionnaire's disease  hepatitis  heatwaves  river beds  water safety  fishing  gardening  workshops  stormwater  biosecurity  volunteer  plant and animal pest management  politics  faith  crime  drugs  pregnancy  native birds  Waimakariri  water quality  schools  early childhood  health professionals  heart disease  kura  school  ethical issues  rangatahi  Linwood  running  donations  whanau  financial pressures  online  health professional  flooding  conflict  peace  winter  agriculture 

Don't let safety go to waste

Wednesday, September 4, 2024   Posted in: Signatory Notice Board By: Administrator With tags: waste, recycling, harm, safety

Christchurch City Council Newsline: 3rd September 2024

Take the time to dispose of hazardous items correctly and keep our staff and your community safe.

That’s the message from the Council’s Resource Recovery team after an increase in fires in kerbside collection trucks and processing facilities this year.

There have been 42 fires across our collection and processing facilities since 2020, including eight so far this year. And Council contractors have been increasingly finding hazardous items like batteries and gas bottles in kerbside loads - contributing towards the issue.

“This year we’ve had six fires at the EcoDrop transfer stations - one at the recycling facility and one recycling truck fire - possibly started by batteries,” says Resource Recovery Manager Dr Alec McNeil.

“It’s an added risk when a gas bottle is thrown into the mix, as these can explode when a fire starts.”

2,230 gas bottles were removed from loads delivered to the EcoSort recycling facility in the 2023/24 period - a 471% increase in numbers on the previous year.

The gas bottles include LPG, helium, soda stream bottles, butane canisters and fire extinguishers. There has also been an increase in nitrous oxide cans appearing in the form of large cream cannisters used by professional caterers.

“When a driver takes a gas bottle onboard in their kerbside collection it poses such a high risk that they immediately need to take the load to the EcoSort recycling facility, interrupting and delaying their collection route,” Dr McNeil says.

If a fire starts in a collection truck on route the truck must dump the entire load on the nearest clear space, likely the street, for Fire and Emergency NZ to respond to.

“Neither batteries or gas bottles should be placed in your rubbish or recycling bin, and when mixed together they can pose a huge risk for our Waste Management staff.

“Please take the time to correctly dispose of these items at our hazardous waste drop off, free of charge.”

Hazardous waste can be disposed of at Council’s EcoDrop Resource Recovery Centres for no cost. This includes household batteries, car batteries, lithium power tool batteries, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, used car oil, cooking oil and paint.