From next week, all Western Bay recycling centres and greenwaste drop-off sites will be open for business again.

Council's fortnightly rural recycling trial programme at BP Pongakawa will also run for two final weekends, operating on Saturday, June 6, and June 20.

Following these dates, the trial will stop following the completion of the six-month trial period.

Council's Utilities Manager Kelvin Hill says it's great to be able to open all four centres after putting temporary opening hours at all recycle and greenwaste centres in place at Alert Levels 3 and 2 to provide the community specific days to bring greenwaste, plastics and other recyclables to the centres in a managed manner required under COVID-19 Alert Level requirements.

'It's been a team effort to get all our centres up and running again. Staff have worked hard to provide a safe environment so we can offer this service and the public have been very patient and understanding.

'We aren't quite there yet with some restrictions on what can and can't be accepted but I'm pleased we are now in a position to reopen all four centres.”

Restrictions that will remain in place include customers required to maintain a one-metre physical distance for safety reasons and staff not assisting customers with their recycling.

Greenwaste will not be accepted if it includes flax, pampas, bamboo, gorse or palms. (These are treated as normal refuse and not accepted at the recycling centres).

Greenwaste stem diameter must be no thicker than 100mm and the length no longer than three metres.

During the lockdown period Council collected 44.6 tonnes of mixed glass, 4.25 tonnes of cardboard and 9 tonnes of paper across the Katikati and Te Puke recycling centres. On average, 385 vehicles visited the centres on days the sites were open.

Waihi Beach and Athenree residents are also being reminded that the Athenree Recycle Centre will be closed on Monday, June 1 (Queen's Birthday weekend).

'We understand that the centre would normally be open on the Monday of a long weekend to accommodate the influx of people visiting the area, however with COVID-19 and our temporary new opening hours this will not happening,” says Kelvin.

Only the following recycling items will be accepted:

• Glass bottles and jars separated into colours

• Aluminium cans

• Tin cans

• Flattened corrugated cardboard

• Paper, including light card and egg cartons

• Clear plastic milk and cream bottles

• Anchor light proof milk bottles

• Clear plastic drink bottles

The following will still not be accepted as Council is not prepared to collect these plastics and then have to take them to the landfill, as this would end up being a cost on ratepayers.

• any coloured plastic bottles

• plastic meat trays and punnets

• plastic containers for margarine, yogurt and ice cream

For more information visit https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/community/covid-19

Recycling and greenwaste opening hours

• Athenree: Thursday (1-4pm), Saturday (9am-12 noon) and Sunday (1-4pm)

• Katikati: Thursday (9am-4pm), Saturday (9am-4pm) and Sunday (9am-12 noon)

• Omokoroa: Wednesday (2pm-4pm) and Saturday (2pm-4pm)

• Te Puke: Tuesday (8am-5pm), Thursday (8am-5pm) and Saturday (8am-4pm)