Wastebusters announced yesterday (Thursday April 27) it will be closing down its Alexandra reuse shop and Alexandra recycling services on June 30 this year.

The decision will not affect the Wānaka reuse shop, Wānaka business and events recycling, the public recycling drop-off at Wastebusters in Wānaka or Wastebusters waste reduction advice and community engagement.

Central Otago Wastebusters was in financial difficulties in 2015 when it asked Wānaka Wastebusters to step in.

Wastebusters general manager Tony Pfeiffer said the organisation was proud to have delivered reuse, recycling and zero waste education in Central Otago for the past eight years, continuing the work that Central Otago Wastebusters started in 2000.

However, he said the Wānaka Wastebusters operation had subsidised the running of the Alexandra reuse shop and Alexandra recycling services during that time.

With the Wastebusters lease on the Alexandra site up for renewal on June 30, it was time to face up to commercial realities, Tony said.

“We’ve had to make the hard call that it’s not financially viable for us to continue to operate on the Alexandra site.

“As a social enterprise, we need to ensure that we are financially viable for our people, our place and our impact, so we can continue to work for zero waste into the future. It wouldn’t be responsible of us to commit to operating a loss-making site into the future.

“Volatile commodity markets and intense competition in recycling markets has meant that we are one of the last social enterprises in the country to be doing recycling. With the government delaying plans to bring in a Container Deposit Scheme, we just can’t hang on any longer in Alexandra.”

Tony said he recognised the hard work and impact created by the founders of Central Otago Wastebusters, and all the staff who had worked for both organisations over the past 22 years. 

Wastebusters will cease all of its recycling services in Alexandra, Cromwell and surrounding rural communities on June 30 and hand over the community recycling drop-off at Boundary Rd to Central Otago District Council the same day.

Tony said he hoped the reuse and recycling could be handed over to another social enterprise or business that can keep offering the services to the Alexandra community.

Wastebusters is continuing to negotiate with Central Otago District Council to see if there are any ways that Wastebusters can continue providing waste reduction impact.

“Obviously our Wānaka staff will be impacted by the loss of part of our Wastebusters whānau with the closure of the Alexandra site,” Tony said..

Wastebusters remains in a resilient position overall, and the future of the social enterprise is secure, he said.

PHOTO: Alexia Johnson