TENTERFIELD’S recycling facility has been closed abruptly over workplace health and safety issues, leaving the town without recycling services.
As Tenterfield Shire Council continues to debate the introduction of kerbside recycling, existing services to recycle the town’s cardboard and glass have been shut down.
Violet Baker, private operator of the recycling services located at Tenterfield Transfer Station, was advised by registered mail last week that following an inspection that had already taken place, the facility would be shut due to workplace health and safety issues.
“I’m very hurt and I’m very disappointed,” Mrs Baker said. “I virtually use that money to live on.”
The facility processes recyclable materials from businesses and from the drop-off area close to the Tenterfield Memorial Baths.
Mrs Baker, who ran the service for 17 years with her husband Warren until his death in August this year, has continued with the service. Despite advice to The Tenterfield Star this week the closure was temporary, she said council had not given her any idea whether the facility would re-open.
“Warren and his staff had been passionate about recycling and had conducted a successful service to Tenterfield for many years,” Mrs Baker said.
“We receive no money from council for the work we do, but live on the proceeds of the sale of the recycled material.
“Council supplies a press for baling the cardboard, but this has been broken down for over a month, as council tells me there are no mechanics available to carry out maintenance. The rest of the machinery is ours, and I keep it in good order.”
She said she would not be able to pick up cardboard from businesses and it would continue to pile up.
Council general manager Jim Gossage this week said the closure was only temporary, but could not give any indication of how long it might remain closed.
“It will be closed until the O. H. and S. [occupational health and safety] issues are clarified and sorted out,” Mr Gossage said.
“We will be working on it straight away to get it started as soon as we can.”
He said a report into the facility had not yet been completed, but was likely to include issues requiring the attention of both council and Mrs Baker.
“We’re not trying to stop recycling, it will remain,” Mr Gossage said. “I would ask people to continue doing what they have been doing.”
He said council intended to stockpile recyclable materials until the facility was once again operational.
Councillor Lawrie West said councillors had not been advised of the closure.
He said Mrs Baker’s work following her husband’s death had seen 105 tonnes of cardboard and 34 tonnes of glass recycled.
He said it was likely the recyclable materials would end up as landfill, adding to the shire’s waste problems, including a pile “as big as a house” at Boonoo Boonoo, which has attracted the attention of the Environmental Protection Authority.
Mayor Toby Smith said the closure was an operational matter and he had no comment.
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