Ongoing staffing challenges temporarily reduce Transfer Station opening hours

The Frankton and Wānaka transfer station facilities will close every Sunday, starting 27 November until 8 January when they will reopen as normal.

The decision to reduce operating hours follows ongoing challenges recruiting staff to run the facilities safely. 

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) Infrastructure Operations Manager Simon Mason said work was ongoing to find a solution to the staffing shortage and confirmed the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and kerbside rubbish and recycling collection service would continue to operate as normal.  

“We’re working hard to maintain normal levels of service for the community while grappling with the same resourcing challenges as many other local businesses. As we’ve said before, this will not be resolved overnight and our key focus is on balancing the need to maintain staff wellbeing and operational safety whilst continuing our kerbside collection service and fulfilling our waste minimisation commitments,” he said.

“Temporarily reducing operating hours at the transfer stations helps us to keep the MRF open, allowing us to continue to keep recyclable materil out of landfill.”

“We encourage everyone to keep up good recycling habits. Put your bins out as normal with clean mixed recycling in the yellow bin, glass in the blue bin and rubbish in the red bin. Helping to reduce contamination in our recycling streams significantly helps the MRF team who hand-sort our district’s mixed recycling,” said Mr Mason.

The Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations will remain open 8.00am-5.00pm six days a week from Monday to Saturday in the interim.

QLDC is continuing to support Waste Management New Zealand in its recruitment efforts and exploring all options to reduce the risk of future disruptions. 

Roles currently available include: Drivers (Class 5 and Class 2), Recycling Operators and Transfer Station Operators. Anyone interested in applying can visit https://wastemanagement.careercentre.net.nz/Job/Search for more details. 

ENDS|KUA MUTU

Media contact: communications@qldc.govt.nz or call 03 441 1802.

FURTHER INFORMATION | Kā pāroko tāpiri

• Wastebusters and Wānaka Greenwaste and Landscaping Supplies are not affected by the Sunday closures.

• Frankton and Wānaka transfer stations will reopen on Sundays from 8 January, 2023.