Over the past two weeks, the Victoria Street Recycling Centre in Young has experienced a significant increase in contamination according to Hilltops Council.
In a statement posted on social media Council said the contamination included:
- General household waste
- Used needles/syringes
- Dead animals
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"This centre is operated by the Elouera Association, and all recycling is hand-sorted by their dedicated staff," Council said.
"These recent contaminants pose serious health and safety risks to workers and damage the effectiveness of our recycling system."
Council is asking the public to please DO NOT place general waste, hazardous items, or biological materials in the recycling bins and to dispose of waste correctly.
Go to the Recycling & Resource Recovery section at https://www.hilltops.nsw.gov.au/services/waste-services-recycling/ for a comprehensive list of what goes in what bin.
"Let’s protect our workers and do the right thing for our environment," Council said.
In the local community groups the majority of residents all condemned the contamination and called for locals to take the time and do the right thing.
" Very sad, it's more than feral, it's a total disrespect for everyone," one local commented.
"There is no excuse, no matter how self entitled you think you might be."
Another anonymous member commented on their experience while working in the plant.
"I've assisted on the belt where (dog manure) came through getting squashed into the belt," they said.
"It was pretty horrific, also unopened chicken products, dirty nappies...if in doubt, throw it out.
"It's not fair on the staff (clients) who work there."
Another commentor wrote that it's not hard to sort waste from recycling, 'same as it's not hard to throw rubbish into a garbage bin and not just on the ground.'
According to the Elouera Association, who run the Young Recycling Facility, website items that can be recycled include:
Glass bottles
Plastic drink bottles
Glass jars
Paper
Plastic containers
Aluminium cans
Plastic milk bottles
Tin cans
Cardboard
Scrap metal that is dropped to the depot
To find out more about what products can and cannot be recycled, also how to prepare products to be recycled please visit the Hilltops Council website or visit the Elouera Association website where there is a list of what can be recycled at https://elouera-association.com/elouera-recycling/.
