Despite Boonoo Boonoo Landfill overflowing with rubbish, the Tenterfield Shire Council has decided to close down the recycling operations facility at the Tenterfield Transfer Station without any notice.
This image shows the state of the landfill on Wednesday, November 30, yet the day before, the council’s environmental services director John Hrobelko wrote a letter to the recycling facility’s Violet Baker, saying that “following the advice of the council’s occupational health and safety officer, the council has decided to close the recycling operations facility until further notice”.
This followed the council’s inspection of the facility on Tuesday, November 29.
In his letter, Mr Hrobelko went on to say that “under the Occupational Health and Safety Legislation there are serious issues of concern pertaining to the site”.
However, when the Southern Free Times contacted Mr Hrobelko to elaborate on these “serious issues” and the consequences of this decision for Tenterfield, he declined to comment.Councillors were unaware of the closure until Mrs Baker had received Mr Hrobelko’s letter, Cr Lawrie West said.
“This wasn’t a decision of councillors,” Cr West said. “There was no consultation with us.”
A very upset and stressed Mrs Baker could not understand why the facility had been closed down and had no idea what the “serious issues” the council had with the operation.
The facility has been operating in Tenterfield for more than 15 years and since early August, it had already processed 105 tonne of recycled cardboard and 34 tonne of glass.
Now, there is no other option for this recycled material besides adding to the already overflowing Boonoo Boonoo Landfill.
“We used to pick up the material from almost 90 per cent of local businesses and take it up to the transfer station for recycling,” Mrs Baker said.
“The whole town loves it and will miss this recycling service if it’s closed down,” she said.
“We receive no money from the council for the work we do but live on the proceeds of the sale of the recycled material.
“The council supplies a press for the baling of the cardboard but this has been broken down for over a month as the 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,” Mrs Baker said.
“It started off as a hobby before my husband Warren passed away in August. We do it to help the local community.
“It was a very good Christmas present I thought (to be shut down),” she said with sarcasm.
Mrs Baker employed two workers.
Story: Rebecca Brown
